• Explore the engineering design process and unpack its hallmarks and stages • Discover how to create a classroom culture that uses critical convergent and divergent thinking to make the most of mistakes
• Receive tools that facilitate student and teacher reflection for maximum impact • Formulate an action plan adapting current classroom content
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Secretary for Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Newark
DESIGNING THE
FUTURE How Engineering Builds
Creative Critical Thinkers in the Classroom
ANN KAISER
• Learn how to develop and adapt engineering design activities and projects for various grade levels and disciplines
“While the entire book is an educator’s wish come true, my favorite part is the activities and projects. I would encourage all superintendents to read Designing the Future and decide for themselves. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. You will see learning through a different lens!” —Margaret Dames
How Engineering Builds Creative Critical Thinkers in the Classroom
With this book, readers will:
Co-director, Institute for Habits of Mind; Strategic Advisor, Eduplanet21
FUTURE
Designing the Future: How Engineering Builds Creative Critical Thinkers in the Classroom provides easy-entry, low-risk ideas K–12 teachers can build on to bring out the talent and creativity already in the classroom. Offering twenty-five-plus activities and projects, author Ann Kaiser guides teachers to incorporate engineering into their existing classwork. Regardless of the subject or grade, strategic engineering design thinking and practices provide the framework to help students stop looking for just one right answer. By incorporating the engineering design hallmarks—it’s OK to make mistakes and there is always more to learn, for example—teachers can create an innovative classroom environment. When implemented properly, the engineering design process creates learning opportunities that encourage students to take flight, becoming lifelong learners who can problem solve creatively and think critically.
DESIGNING THE
How Engineering Builds Creative Critical Thinkers in the Classroom
“Ann Kaiser provides educators with a deep understanding of what it means to think and act like an engineer. She starts with ideas about how to build a classroom culture in which engineering can flourish regardless of subject matter and takes us through a detailed and practical approach for getting started. She includes many templates and design models to imitate as teachers personalize the approach for their students. Finally, part II of the book is full of activities and projects that can take as little as twenty minutes or as long as a semester or a year, with many options in between. As I read this, I found many connections to our work with Habits of Mind and personalized learning. I can’t wait to recommend it to my colleagues and clients!” —Bena Kallick
ANN KAISER