How Do We Engage Kids In Engineering?

I used to love "junkyard wars". That was an amazing program that challenged a group's imagination and engineering abilities. unfortunately shows like that seem to be beaten down by "reality TV" programs. I personally will never understand the attraction or need of those reality shows.

Actually I also loved Junkyard Wars. However Junkyard Wars was actually a Reality Show itself. Reality Shows arose as attractive to producers and networks due to relatively inexpensive production costs as compared to scripted dramas where you have to pay writers and actors and even crews of sufficient size and skill to achieve acceptable production values.

I understand that it was a reality show too but at least we got something useful out of it. We could see where a good work ethic got us as opposed to no ethics at all in some of the characters. They actually did some things that we might be able to do under some conditions whereas how often do you find yourself needing to learn to dance in a couple of days for a competition or when will I ever need to know the life of Paris Hilton???

Scrapheap Challenge is still going in the UK.

Tho i don't like the new format for the show!

Well, ask yourself when it is that the kids turn away from science and engineering. It may well be that this event occurs when they discover that their interest in getting the girls is not advanced by their interest in making a gizmo.

Yes my friends, what we need is hunk scientists and engineers, cavorting in the lab with beautiful women scientists and engineers.

I knew a guy who invented servo motors that instantly reversed polarity. He ended up with two women, and a home in the islands, a helicopter, a Learjet, a Bank account in Zurich, and great cars and guns.

He was handsome, good natured, and constantly having fun.

A movie based on his life and adventures would likely encourage youths to pursue scientific achievements.

Tesla isn't so great, since he was celibate.

Althoug TV shows may be lacking in Engineers and Scientists, Comics and Movies are not. We often see villains played by the evil genius' and the likes, but these are not suitable role models for children/adolecents. A couple of comics turned movie recently though have provided a little spark of hope. "Iron Man" is probably the most obvious.

Billionare, playboy, Scientist, Engineer, Tony Stark, weapons manufacturer turned good guy. Not a bad role model for adolescents (apart from the playboy side).

I think we need a few more role models of this nature for children in this day and age to overcome the stereotypical Scientist and Engineer, Geek persona. In the younger years I still think comics are one of the best ways to educate/influence young people, while later on they will associate more towards human characters.

Perhaps we need some Engineers/Scientists to develop such a series. Wait a second I think the more recent crime fighting/ investigating shows might be attempting this (e.g. CSI), with attractive lab workers (forgive me for not knowing the proper titles), working together, using science (or in most cases science fiction) to solve crime.

I loved Junkyard Wars too, but I liked Robot Wars even more.

I do hate all these damned initials people through around, CCD? It's like jargon, specific to a discipline and it is assumed by members of that discipline that "foreigners" should learn their jargon. I happen to know what a CCD is, from a passing interest in astronomy, but only for that reason.

I think we have to interest them at the elementary school level with simple stuff, give them some success to foster their interest, but keep it going.

I agree with the statements about Junkyard Wars. It actually helped me choose engineering as a college major. We still have Mythbusters though right?

Actually, I have wanted to post something like this for a while now. I am in the Big Brother Big Sister program and I want to get my little brother interested in engineering. He's a hands on person with a passion for carpentry (sadly, I have never had the kind of desire that he has for mechanics and building...I was always interested in space and science of the future).

Does anyone have any suggestions on various activities we can do to promote engineering in a young mind? I have thought about purchasing a boe-bot and maybe a trip to NASA but any other suggestions would be helpful.

As far as toys go, they still make erector sets and Robotix. And I think that a lot of kids would be genuinely interested in a visit to some type of production facility with a lot of automation or a cutting edge development center. It's even better for kids if there can be something interactive. I think that is why the Science Museum in St Paul, Minnesota is always so busy.

If you were trying to tie in his interest in carpentry, you might try to find a cabinet, furniture, or window factory. You could also look for a company that produces pre-fab homes.

There are plenty of topics that would work as a TV series promoting engineering. Almost any topic for TV will draw viewers if it's done right. TV exec's aren't interested in what's good for the country or world, just in what sells. "Dirty Jobs" is another reality show that's popular, but with a less interesting star than Mike Rowe, it probably wouldn't work. A new show would need to have something, people, action, glitz, etc., that attracts and keeps an audience, or it would be dropped after the first episode.

I don't think that there will be a show "Top Engineer" (a kind of "Magaiver"???)... ... Engineer is not a shiny professional (as singers and models are)... So, forget it...

I think that you could whip up a kid's interest for science and engineering with fine, illustrated books showing the history and evolution of science and technology, the great inventors and their achievements e.t.c. I had my first 'touch' with science and engineering as a small kid by leafing through the pages of LIFE's books (which were published around 1970: The Engineer, Energy, Weather, Light and Vision e.t.c.). I remember myself staring at the nice pictures of these books. Since then I 'knew' that when I grow up I'll be occupied with these kind of things. Btw, these LIFE's books are still some of my favorites.

I can't give you a TV show, but you could get a team together and try the Tech Challenge 2010 Space Junk. If you like, drop me an Email and I'll see what I can do to find you a team that needs a coach.

http://techchallenge.thetech.org/the_challenge.cfm

My team, The Flying Penguins, has competed two years in a row, live via web cam from Westport NY, to San Jose Ca.

The Tech Challenge is designed for 5-12 grades and the devices get pretty elaborate. It's a blast to see what the other teams have built as a solution to this year's problem. It's all "Hands On" design for the teams. This year, Plattsburgh State University ( in Plattsburgh NY) will be hosting a Satellite location and maybe another will be in Framingham Mass. area. The Fleet Science Center in San Diego may also have a few teams and the Satellite test rig, as they did last year for Explore the Volcano. Anyone that wants to have a team compete in Lego League or First Robotics ( a great goal for when they get older) should start with the Tech Challenge.

Fire back any questions....Matt

Hi Sparkchaser,

that's a magic project and one with real purpose.

i think that what you are setting up has real prospects of getting kids all fired up.

I have been involved with all sorts of projects with children through to young engineers - and it's magic to see the enthisiasm that these ideas generate.

taking people way outside the box. Brilliant.

All power to your elbow and if there is any way to see what thes kids create - i would love to see it!

Sleepy

Simple: Keep them away from reality TV and use the time instead to help them with their math and science homework.

Maybe also introduce your little girl or boy to the engineers or technical folks you personally know and respect from your own work or social life.

If you're not an engineer or technical person, introduce them to science teachers working at your local high school, college or nearby science museum (by attending open-house events). Inspiring science teachers in early elementary school were the ones who got me hooked on science.

Also, check to see if your local engineering society section puts on events that are open to the public. Mine does - the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) / Hudson-Mohawk section. An in-person event beats TV any day of the week, and the folks who volunteer to organize these events need your support. :)

- Larry

"Keep them away from reality TV." Yes, Larry this is spot on. Civilization has evolved a culture of convenience technology (remote control everything). Thus our younger generation is not only bombarded with 2 dimensional media entertainment, they are hypnotized in a sense.

It is up to us mentors, teachers, engineers, parents, etc, etc to nurture, inspire, encourage and spawn creativity (engineering).

One such way that I have contributed to this knowledge sharing is "Technology Literacy". In short, this is program by which engineers and educators collaborate and establish methods of exposing our younger generation to engineering and science.

Tell kids "Go do something in 3 dimensions!!"

Tech Challenge Videos:

http://techchallenge.thetech.org/videos.cfm

Thanks for the kind words, but I didn't do it all alone. I had the Tech Challenge staff that allowed a team to participate remotely, something no one had tried in twenty years. The judges were new to the idea too. They had to use a web camera and mics to evaluate the design and interview the team after their turn. Essex County Cornell (4-H) supplied the camera system and high speed internet connection.

I built a test rig like the one they had in San Jose. The kids built and tested the project, a water powered coil pump. I think the more water and mud available the longer the testing.

The real point is you can get a team together too and try the Tech Challenge. I have already helped a few teams forming in New England area. You never know what you might start....

Sparkchaser,

Totally awesome!

Mike

You have to get kids involved to a certain level depending on their age group. With me, I have 6 boys at home. The two oldest boys are 9 and 7 and one shows great potential and interest and is as helpful as a child of their age could be when I am working in the garage or piecing something together from a pile of junk (kids just love a big pile of junk to tinker with). But my other son would rather draw pictures and make things out of mud (and sticks) and he is quite good for his age. He understands the concepts of what I teach him, but it isn't what interests him.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you have the opportunity to teach what you know and possibly start th career of one of the worlds' great inventors/scientists/engineers then do it, but do not waste your time or anyone else's by cramming it down the throat of someone who would rather do other things.

One last thing, am I wrong or does every kid burn themselves the first time they use a soldering iron? I know I did, just wondering...

i have always wondered why there is no television program glamourizing the engineering lifestyle. i mean, cops, doctors, and celebrities seem to get all the action on TV. what about all the cool stuff engineers do? for example, in real life i play high-stakes poker, drive a fast red sportscar, bed a different girl every day, and have an alcohol and narcotic-fueled raging rave in my home every night. oh yeah, and i design semiconductor devices at work. <sigh>

which one would any of you rather watch a television program about? me and my fabulous 16 hour/day social life, or me sitting in front of my computer for 8 hours coding device models, reading books on semiconductor physics, talking to my colleagues about whether this one circuit layout gives us 20 milliohms or another gives 22 millohms? engineering is at is core a cerebrally intensive activity. it may appear an exercise in splitting hairs and therefore looking in from the outside, might not seem all that interesting. no surprise that the youth population, incidentally in possession of incompletely developed intellectual and decision-making faculties, doesn't find the notion if sitting and thinking about problems and their solutions such an interesting pursuit.

if the objective is to keep kids engaged in the sciences, luminescent pickles are certainly a good start. encouraging inquisitiveness is another good thing, and sorely lacking in mainstream youth culture in the US. it might be said that inquisitiveness is a habit of thought lacking in adult culture as well, and this reality they put forth hardly fertile ground for the budding habits of our many millions of potential future scientists. so to that point i would say that keeping kids engaged in sciences requires _everyone_ to be engaged in it. welcome to a land where all parents and adults are wise and kind, and nothing is ever unfair.

why are any of us living this life, working this job? i have the luxury of being thoroughly engaged in what i do, don't care about the money so much. no kids, so you know, yay me. but not everyone is passionate about their gangsta engineer lifestyle. they just punch a clock. like those damn sandians.

passion is what incites young minds, and not much else. until somehow engineering/sciences are inextricably linked in impressionable young minds with parties and good times and scoring hot chicks/guys, oh and by the way being recognized by one's peers as Thoroughly Awesome, those interested in the sciences will continue to be a self-selecting group, to all outward appearances engaged in an endless and boring omphaloskeptical contemplation of trivia.

don't forget that half of any distribution is below average. as judge smaells once said to danny noonan, "the world needs ditchdiggers too."