Developing an Open-Sourced CAD-Based System and Curriculum for Teachers
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The recent widespread access to makerspaces has led to a renaissance in the development of physical instructional materials, such as mathematics manipulatives, science kits, and engineering projects. Learn more about how ITEEA is collaborating with the Make to Learn Laboratory at the University of Virginia to develop instructional units as part of the Engineering byDesign curriculum based on CAD models in an open-source repository. This project provides students with authentic manufacturing experiences and has led to increased student engagement and interest in STEM careers, potentially increasing the gender diversity of students entering manufacturing and STEM fields.
Debra Shapiro, DTE is a STEM Teacher at Forest Glen Middle School in Suffolk, VA. She is also a past-President of ITEEA.
Ms. Shapiro has piloted lessons with three of the CAD models in her classroom - two with 7th and 8th graders and one with 6th graders. She shares that the experience has given her the opportunity to provide feedback on ease of use, issues within the information provided, and the EbD lessons. Debra also worked with the UVA team in North Carolina last May on another project that will be included as part of the presentation. Her 7th and 8th graders worked with the Animation Lab and the Linear Motors while her 6th graders used the measuring cups while making the dough for their Squishy Circuits. The NC project was the Snap! Arcade. Ms. Shapiro has presented on the initiative at both the 2023 VTEEA Conference and the 2023 1909 Conference.