Collaborators in Elementary STEM: Engineering and Teacher Education

Abstract

This article describes a collaboration between engineering and teacher education departments from two universities in Virginia in the 2015-2016 semesters. Accounts by the professor and the student teacher author are interspersed to describe how this collaboration between engineering students and teacher education students enhanced the skill sets of the students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in elementary classrooms. Engineering students observed and participated as student teachers taught STEM units. Teacher education students observed and participated as engineering students conducted short STEM hands-on sessions. The outcome was mutually beneficial as engineering students learned teaching techniques and skills, while teacher education students learned STEM knowledge and engineering practices. Future idea include co-designing engineering challenges and cooperation in summer STEM camps.