Evaluating the Impact of Curriculum-Integrated Engineering Design Modules in Middle Grades Classrooms

The Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE) Modules were developed as the middle grades part of a K-12 partnership between the Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF), University of South Alabama (USA), Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS), and local industry to meet a community’s 21st century workforce needs. They have been collaboratively implemented over five years in middle grades classrooms by math and science teachers. The EYE Modules aim to improve student Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) performance, including engineering habits of mind, as well as students’ beliefs about and interest in STEM. The EYE Modules support NGSS standards in engineering as well as Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. The partnership to implement these modules has positively impacted teachers and students, leading to district level STEM reform. As part of a National Science Foundation award, a longitudinal comparison study of the impact of the EYE Modules has been completed. There is evidence that EYE Module participation has a positive impact on participating students as well as teachers. Additionally, because of our efforts, the MCPSS has reformed its science and mathematics curricula to require the implementation of engineering design challenges as the integrator of the STEM disciplines.