Industrial systems can be complex and not intuitive to perceive. Therefore, students in technology and engineering programs can benefit from developing mental models of industrial systems during their journey in college. However, more often than not, these students do not have access to industrial facilities; thus, developing mental models for…

Research relating to the nature and purpose of 'design' activity across education sectors has accelerated in recent years as governments and policy makers throughout the world highlight the importance of skills such as creative problem-solving and innovation. Within secondary schools, responsibility for teaching and learning through design is…

The intention of this article is to provide Technology and Engineering Educators (T&EEs) with a more thorough understanding of the product realization process (PRP) being implemented during machine design. Machines can be defined as the combination of simple machines and mechanisms for the purpose of doing work (Hughes & Merrill, 2021b).…

This study sought to develop and validate an instrument to test the self-efficacy of teaching engineering design. This study is part of a larger effort to develop an instrument for both pre-service and in-service teachers of Science, Technology, and Engineering education. The focus of this study is on the initial instrument creation process and…

This article describes central tenets for design thinking and entrepreneurial thinking individually, then examines their intersection to analyze a product's feasibility in the market. The conceptual framework of combining design and entrepreneurial thinking can foster novelty in design, and also provides a means of extending instruction in the…

The use of CO[subscript 2] laser cutters/engravers in technology and engineering education "allows even beginning students to produce professional parts in a very short time [and] empowers and motivates students, helping to bring out their creativity" (Flowers, 2000, p. 11). They are fast, accurate, fun to use, and they facilitate…

The intention of this article is to provide Technology and Engineering Educators (T&EEs) with a more thorough understanding of implementing the product realization process (PRP) to help manage the design and development processes in their classrooms. The product realization process (PRP) innately involves a practical combination of knowledge,…

This reflective essay provides a lesson plan-ready overview of sustainability developed through the efforts of a dedicated team of individuals within the Falls Church City Public School (FCCPS) System. Students in the marquee sustainability education program learn and develop an appreciation for the basics of growing food and the importance of…

As the field evolves over time, shifting from Industrial Arts, to Technology Education, to Engineering and Technology Education (ETE), so too does what teachers teach, how they teach, and the projects that they use. Projects that worked 10 years ago might not hold up today and, as reflective practitioners, they need to be able to align the current…

In design courses, reviewing how others have solved design problems or completed projects is common practice and often encouraged by educators. Using student work as examples can provide context for assessment criteria and help students approach new design problems. While studies have explored the use of exemplars in various disciplines, little…

Teaching students the design process and providing opportunities for design is at the core of engineering/technology education. The design process is a key feature of technological literacy, and design is the most represented element within "Standards for Technological Literacy" (ITEA/ITEEA 2000, 2002/2007; Lewis, 2005; Wicklein, 2006).…

This article reports an investigation of challenges faced by Chinese technology teachers to infuse engineering design into technology education. A five-point Likert scale, including 25 items, was designed and 339 teachers participated in this survey voluntarily. Consequently, 333 qualified questionnaires were analyzed, and the following results…

Fostering experiential learning experiences that allow students to apply their design thinking skills is important for developing technological and engineering (T&E) literacy. However, K-12 schools must ensure that educators providing these experiential T&E experiences are adequately prepared and supported to maintain a safer teaching and…

This study aims to investigate affordances of models and modelling in design projects in technology education. To learn more about affordances when working with models and modelling, four Swedish technology teachers were interviewed using a narrative approach. Despite a small number of informants data were rich, containing detailed descriptions of…

One effort to reducing air pollution and global warming in recent years has centered on the replacement of fossil-fuel-burning vehicles with alternative energy options such as electric-powered transportation. In fact, electric vehicle technology is one of the fastest-growing, and ever-evolving, sectors of the energy industry (TR Fastenings, 2019).…