Engineering Mindset.
An Early Childhood Education & Training Progam
All hands and minds on deck, let’s get there together!
Benefits of Engineering Mindset in ECE:
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- Teachers and children alike benefit from this approach in that social-emotional competence and support is at the heart.
- Classrooms and ECE programs function more efficiently when systematic problem solving methods are used consistently.
- Engineering Mindset involves team building and collaboration between teachers, children, families, and administration.
- Frees teachers up to work more in depth with small play groups and authentically document learning when children are solving problems efficiently and on their own.
- Engineering Mindset includes 21st Century Skills that are the backbone of the ECE workforce and are essential for a thriving program.
- Builds big, beautiful brains! Strengthens the right pathways (primes the pump, so to speak), for future success in STEM and problem-solving.
- E is the glue that binds S, T, and M. Without engineering design process, STEM curriculum wouldn’t be STEM. Implementation of Engineering Mindset provides foundational skills in social-emotional competence that enables children to handle problems from a systematic perspective. Trusting the design process to solve problems in all domains.
- Engineering Mindset naturally supports social-emotional competence – lifelong skills that transfer to everyday life for children and grown-ups alike!
About this Project:
With my philosophy rooted in Constructivism and inquiry/project-based curriculum, I’ve always been focused on establishing a Culture of Inquiry in all learning communities, with children and adults. Since STEM has come both on the scene, I became curious about how the engineering design process can support emergent curriculum and as I dug deeper, I noticed an overlap of the engineering design process, feedback loops, and inquiry-driven practices. As a result of this extensive research-based project, I’ve developed the Engineering Mindset Learning Model that outlines the powerful combination of six Engineering Habits of Mind, problem-solving design process, and three empowerment teaching strategies. When implemented fully, this approach can transform programs from the inside out and truly make a difference in the lives of teachers, students, and families alike.
