#BigBeacon Twitter Chat – Oct 28 – Engineering in Elementary Schools

K-5 students already have the qualities of great innovators problem solvers, but traditional rote-learning environments can often stifle young learners’ natural curiosity, engagement, and confidence.

Bringing hands-on, relevant learning to K-5 classrooms through engineering activities, projects, and problems, however, can empower students to embrace their exploratory nature and stay excited about discovery – now and for years to come. And the earlier students have these learning opportunities, the better.

From research, we know that students are deciding as early as second grade if they are interested in – and believe they are good at – math and science. In one study, 65 percent of scientists and graduate students reported that their interest in science began before middle school. In other words, students are deciding at an early age that they are either “good” or “bad” at problem solving, which can lead them to narrow their options.

What can we do to help students develop confidence and cultivate lasting interests in engineering and problem solving?

On Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET, please join PLTW on Twitter for a conversation around the following questions and more that focus engineering in elementary schools by following and utilizing the hashtag #PLTWBB.

• Why is an early introduction to engineering important for K-5 students?
• What are some ways to get K-5 students excited about engineering?
• What are some tips for getting K-5 students comfortable with the engineering design process?
• What technology tools can help to boost engineering engagement in K-5 classrooms?
• What are barriers to making engineering programs available to K-5 students?

About Project Lead The Way

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for K-12 students and teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. More than 8,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.

How to Twitter Chat

If you’ve never Twitter chatted before, don’t worry; it’s very easy! First, get a Twitter account if you don’t already have one, and log in. At 8 PM ET on Wednesday go to twitter.com and type #BigBeacon into the search box on Twitter. Thereafter all the tweets with the hashtag #BigBeacon will show up on your Twitter page. To participate, simply express your opinion by sending a tweet, and be sure to append the hashtag #BigBeacon so other members of the Twitter Chat see you are posting. Alternatively, automate the hashtag search and append feature by using the free service Tchat at http://www.tchat.io.