Designing the Future: How Engineering Builds Creative Critical Thinkers in the Classroom (Boost Critical and Creative Thinking Using the Engineering Design Process)
Brand: Solution Tree
Categories: Books, Education & Teaching, Schools & Teaching



Dimensions: 8.25 x 0.75 x 10.75 inches
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1947604554
Publisher: Solution Tree Press
Print length: 248 pages
Publication date: September 20, 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1947604551
Edition: Illustrated
subtitle: Illustrated Edition
author: Ann Kaiser
review: Editorial Reviews Review "Ann Kaiser provides educators with a deep understanding of what it means to think and act like an engineer. She starts with ideas about how to build a classroom culture in which engineering can flourish, regardless of subject matter, and takes us through a detailed and practical approach for getting started. She includes many templates and design models to imitate as teachers personalize the approach for their students. Finally, part 2 of the book is full of activities and projects that can take as little as twenty minutes or as long as a semester or a year, with many options in between. As I read this, I found many connections to our work with Habits of Mind and Personalized Learning. I can't wait to recommend it to my colleagues and clients." ----Bena Kallick, co-director, Institute for Habits of Mind, strategic adviser, Eduplanet21 " Designing the Future is a blueprint for a successful and meaningful STEM program. As superintendent of schools, I chose to use part of my budget to fund Ann Kaiser as a consultant to work with ninety-three schools to change the way instruction is delivered. Her book details how she proceeded to be a change agent who influenced student learning so there was a desire to learn to succeed. In her book, there are detailed rubrics for identifying the expectations to be met in the engineering design process. While the entire book is an educator's wish come true, my favorite part is the activities and projects. I have observed Ann teaching teachers and teaching students how engineering is integrated in all subject areas. She carefully expresses how to learn from failure, how to know your problem, how to know your options, how to develop a solution, and most importantly, how to go forward. Through her book, Ann helps students in all subject areas to think like engineers and to collaborate and work together so synergy is increased through teamwork. Unequivocally, I can say that having Ann Kaiser as a consultant for the Archdiocese of Newark was one of the best investments that our school office has made. I would encourage all superintendents to read Designing the Future and decide for themselves. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. You will see learning through a different lens." ----Margaret Dames, secretary for education and superintendent of Catholic schools, New Jersey About the Author Ann Kaiser is the founder and chief executive officer of ProjectEngin, a STEM education consulting firm dedicated to including engineering design in K-12 classrooms. She is a former engineer and educator with over thirty years of experience. Following her award-winning teaching career, Ann has provided professional development and curriculum support to schools and educators interested in using engineering design thinking and practices to frame active project-based learning (PBL). In addition to workshops, she presents at numerous U.S. and international conferences. Ann's engineering experience in product and market development in the metals industry led her to value creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills as much as to her technical knowledge. As an educator, she worked extensively to include more inquiry and PBL in her mathematics and physics classes. In 2010, she designed and implemented a successful engineering design elective that numerous schools have adopted. This elective introduces a wide range of students to the potential of engineering as both a problem-solving process and a potential career path. In 2013, Ann won a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching and spent six months in Singapore researching the use and impact of engineering design performance tasks and projects in secondary physics. In 2014, she was named a Top Overseas Teacher by the Academy of Singapore Teachers, Ministry of Education. Ann's innovative work with ProjectEngin led to the company being named the 2017 Small Business Administration Microenterprise of the Year for the New England Region. Ann holds a bachelor of science in engineering from Columbia University and is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society. As an International Fellow at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, she earned a master's degree in international affairs, with a focus on technology transfer.