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).…

For students to gain the most out of education, they need to form long-term memories from experiences gained through active learning. The greatest distinction between active learning and traditional approaches involves the types of tasks and problems the students are challenged to solve. Active learning activities should be structured with student…

This article discusses a design contest where students can submit new technology designs and be judged for their creativity and unique ideas. Design contests are a wonderful way to stimulate creativity and build student confidence. In this article the author explores some of the issues of importance involved in designing and launching such a…

The engineering design process is very involved, and it is easy to superficially treat some design steps by rushing through them. This superficial treatment not only jeopardizes student learning of good design thinking skills, but it also fosters a sense of busywork because students feel as though they are just checking boxes rather than engaging…

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 versatility required for employment continues to change with technological advancements. Some of the top listed skills needed for a career are positive attitude, communication, time management, critical-thinking, and problem-solving (Peart, 2019). How to teach each of these competencies may take different strategies and techniques. This…

This article is in response to requests that the author provide sketching techniques to help teach young learners how to improve their design sketching. Teachers indicated that, like creative confidence, students lack confidence in their sketching abilities and teachers also often struggle to be confident in teaching sketching. This article…

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,…

A group of adults, dressed in authentic medieval costumes, organize and stage a full-scale battle at a local park; weapons (made from foam), roles, and medieval speech are all part of the event. This is known as "Live Action Role Play" -- more commonly referred to as "LARP." Although many settings and scenarios have been used…

Engineering design has been central to technology education. Currently, online collaborative platforms for designers are widely used as digital forms of an engineer's notebook. However, traditional forms are still valued as the medium of engineering design during the conceptual phase of design since a paper notebook and pen or pencil allow…

On a hot summer night in July 2020, several technology education experts in South Korea and the United States gathered in a Zoom meeting room. The meeting started with a brief introduction of ITEEA's new standards, "Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy" ("STEL"; ITEEA, 2020), to the Korean audience and discussed…

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…

Classrooms are operating differently during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in lab-based courses. Virtual classrooms utilizing Zoom, Google Meet, or other conferencing software can create challenges for hands-on, lab-based classes. These virtual methods also pose problems for pre-service teacher education students attempting to gain much needed…

The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association's (ITEEA's) "Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy" ("STEL") describes design thinking as an approach that allows students and educators to integrate other content areas by considering relevant contextual information to guide design and making…