TY - JOUR
T1 - Geotechnical engineering in US elementary schools
AU - Suescun-Florez, Eduardo
AU - Iskander, Magued
AU - Kapila, Vikram
AU - Cain, Ryan
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - This paper reports on the results of several geotechnical engineering-related science activities conducted with elementary-school students. Activities presented include soil permeability, contact stress, soil stratigraphy, shallow and deep foundations, and erosion in rivers. The permeability activity employed the LEGO NXT platform for data acquisition, the soil profile and foundations activity employed natural and transparent soils as well as LEGO-based foundation models, and the erosion activity utilised a 3D printer to assist with construction of building models. The activities seek to enhance students' academic achievement, excite them about geotechnical engineering, and motivate them to study science and math. Pre- and post-activity evaluations were conducted to assess both the suitability of the activities and the students' learning. Initial results show that students gain a reasonable understanding of engineering principles. Moreover, the geotechnical engineering activities provided students an opportunity to apply their math skills and science knowledge.
AB - This paper reports on the results of several geotechnical engineering-related science activities conducted with elementary-school students. Activities presented include soil permeability, contact stress, soil stratigraphy, shallow and deep foundations, and erosion in rivers. The permeability activity employed the LEGO NXT platform for data acquisition, the soil profile and foundations activity employed natural and transparent soils as well as LEGO-based foundation models, and the erosion activity utilised a 3D printer to assist with construction of building models. The activities seek to enhance students' academic achievement, excite them about geotechnical engineering, and motivate them to study science and math. Pre- and post-activity evaluations were conducted to assess both the suitability of the activities and the students' learning. Initial results show that students gain a reasonable understanding of engineering principles. Moreover, the geotechnical engineering activities provided students an opportunity to apply their math skills and science knowledge.
KW - LEGO robotics
KW - elementary school
KW - geotechnical engineering education
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879057507&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/03043797.2013.800019
DO - 10.1080/03043797.2013.800019
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84879057507
VL - 38
SP - 300
EP - 315
JO - European Journal of Engineering Education
JF - European Journal of Engineering Education
SN - 0304-3797
IS - 3
ER -