Tech Directions - November 2008 - (Page 16)

Exploring Engineering— Pros Can Help Make It Real By Harry T. Roman htroman49@aol.com E of today’s engineer. Technology solving mindset—integrating and NGINEERING is one of the changes so rapidly that what colblending both the technical and the oldest professions, datlege students learn in an engineering nontechnical aspects of a problem. ing back to humanity’s degree program is often obsolete ﬁve This is exactly what engineers do early times. The Seven to seven years after graduation. In all day, and their Wonders of the Ancient 1960, the average lifetime of a new real-world experiWorld were all priproduct was 10 years. Today, it is ences are rich ore marily feats of engia year or less. The Internet as we to be mined in neering. Most also know it is not yet 10 years old, yet it the classroom. had profound social/ has become the basis for many comFortunately, cultural impacts. mercial transactions and, needless more and Engineers are to say, has completely revolutionized more working agents of change, American business. and retired devotees of capitalism, Engineers survive because they engineers are and dreamers of the realize that to maintain a good salary reaching out to possible. Theirs is a calls for keeping ahead of the next local schools composite profession, learning curve. This alone is a major relegated not to the mers to work with re drea Engineers a ible. Their teachers and positive example of what students discovery of new knowlss of the impo are in store for in the real world. Enedge, but to the practia tion. students to g innov gineering takes place in a fast-paced ac tions brin make technolcal, economic, and social and information-rich environment. ogy, science, and invenapplication of that which tion come alive. is already discovered. Engineers’ Within the last 10 years, we have actions bring innovation. MetaphoriActivities for Exploring seen the rise of national competically, they exist where “the rubber Engineering tions like FIRST Robotmeets the road.” National Engineers Week comes ics, sponsored by Dean Engineers are also in a unique around every FebKamen, noted contemposition to work with the schools, ruary in honor porary inventor and helping them to provide essential of one of the entrepreneur. Many education to all students. In fact, a greatest enlocal organizations slow, but steady partnership is degineers of all also sponsor design veloping along these lines, which is time, Thomas challenges for schools. what I address in this article. Front Edison. You And what about the and center to the trend is technology can plan ahead robot competitions on education, the ﬁrst step toward technow for some TV—Robot Wars! All nological literacy. activities to this cuts to the heart celebrate engineering in your More Engineers Get Involved of team-based design, Tea m -ba sed just as happens in classroom. Integrating the curricula, a major d is a t the hea e sign the workaday world You might start thrust in all national school systems, rt of the engineer’s jo of business and new by having stucalls for a multidimensional problemb. product development. dents draw distincStudents should be taught that tions between science, technology, Harry T. Roman is an electrical encontinuous learning and continuand engineering. One of the things I gineer, inventor, writer, and supporter ous change is central to the world have done over the years is create of technology education. 16 techdirections ◆ NOVEMBER 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - November 2008

Tech Directions - November 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct fromWashington The Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers Exploring Engineering—Pros Can Help Make It Real Challenge Students to Design an Energy-Efficient Home CTE Teacher Succession—Insuring a Smooth Transition Reservoir High’s TE Site Wins Web Site of the Month ACTE Convention and Career Tech Expo— Racing Toward Charlotte Hands-On Activities More than Fun

Tech Directions - November 2008

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