There is a national conversation about a secondary teacher shortage and the lack of qualified teachers in the classroom. Over recent years, there has been a rise in the number of alternatively certified teachers to fill these positions. This is particularly true in the field of career and technical education. However, there is a debate on whether…

For nearly 40 years, there has been a serious decline in the number of new technology and engineering education teachers and teacher preparation programs in the United States (Akmal, Oaks, & Barker, 2002; Daugherty & Boser, 1993; Edmunds, 1980; Greene, 2016; Moye, 2009; Volk, 1993). Currently, only 15% of the technology and engineering…

The integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, also referred to as integrative STEM education, is a relatively new interdisciplinary teaching technique that incorporates an engineering design-based learning approach with mathematics, science, technology, and engineering education (Sanders, 2010, 2012, 2013;…

Within the technology education classroom, engineering design has been targeted as key to improving learning, enhancing interest in STEM careers, and positively impacting students. The purpose of this research review was to determine whether the research evidence bears these claims. Four scholarly journals that focus on technology and engineering…

As education seeks to mold itself to fit the demands of the 21st century, STEM education will continue to be an important consideration. The integrated and crosscutting nature of STEM is incorporated into the "Next Generation Science Standards" in which engineering design is raised to the same level as scientific inquiry and is expected…

In this study, the 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century identified by the National Academy of Engineering were examined by a panel of experts in an effort to identify prospective curricular integration opportunities in the field of technology and engineering education. The study utilized a three-round modified Delphi methodology…

Though not empirically established as an efficacious pedagogy for promoting higher order thinking skills, technological/engineering design-based learning in K-12 STEM education is increasingly embraced as a core instructional method for integrative STEM learning that promotes the development of student critical thinking skills (Honey, Pearson,…

The presented study used a problem-solving experience in engineering design with LEGO robotics materials as the real-world mathematics-learning context. The goals of the study were (a) to determine if a short but intensive extracurricular learning experience would lead to significant student learning of a particular academic topic and (b) to…

In this article the authors collected numerous forms of data to better understand the perceptions of a joint conference from the various stakeholders. From the detailed survey and interview responses, the researchers found that administrators/supervisors had fewer reservations in regards to holding a joint conference. One reason for this may due…

Technology and engineering (TE) educators have long championed the infusion of mathematics into technology curriculum, especially to enhance TE learning goals and demonstrate "connections between technology and other fields of study." There is a need for curriculum development and professional development initiatives to purposefully…

Despite the presence of the "Standards for Technological Literacy" (STL) in engineering and technology curricula and in scholarly research (e.g., Strimel & Grubbs, 2016; Kennedy, Quinn, & Lyons, 2018; Bers, Seddighin, & Sullivan, 2013; Harrison, 2011), it is now the "Framework for K-12 Science Education" (National…

It is well documented that experiential field-based learning has positive K-12 student engagement and retention impacts, but do preservice technology and engineering educators experience similar educational benefits? Additionally, do they perceive experiential learning to be valuable in their personal study, and do they plan to extend this…

The National Science Foundation's Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program (NSF, 2012) supports partnerships between K-12 school districts and institutions of higher education (IHEs) and has been funding projects to improve STEM education in K-12 since 2002. As of 2011, a total of 178 MSP projects have received support as part of a STEM…

Engineering design thinking is "a complex cognitive process" including divergence-convergence, a systems perspective, ambiguity, and collaboration (Dym, Agogino, Eris, Frey, & Leifer, 2005, p. 104). Design is often complex, involving multiple levels of interacting components within a system that may be nested within or connected to other systems.…

The purpose of this research was to determine the future critical issues and problems facing the K-12 technology and engineering education profession in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This study was based on the Wicklein nationwide studies (1993a, 2005). Even though this study did not exactly replicate the Wicklein studies--since it was limited to…