Q: My students are starting their second EiE unit. Do they have to work through the “What is Technology” activity again?

A: The answer is, “It depends!” All EiE units start with the prep lesson "Tech in a Bag" where students open “mystery bags” that contain different kinds of technologies. 

Examining low-tech items like socks and spoons helps students to expand their understanding of what the term "technology" means.

(WATCH THE "Tech in a Bag" VIDEO)

If you teach EiE, you can probably recite the five steps of the EiE Engineering Design Process (EDP) from memory: ASK – IMAGINE – PLAN – CREATE – IMPROVE!

In our professional development workshops, however, we notice that educators who are new to classroom engineering sometimes can’t picture what these steps will look like when their students actually DO them. That’s one reason we created EiE Video Snippets. These super-short videos (most are about a minute long) show you, quickly and easily, how young children work through the five EDP steps. 

Maybe you’re teaching EiE for the first time this semester. Or maybe you already use the curriculum in your elementary classroom but want to brush up on your knowledge. Either way, EiE Spotlight Videos are a great way to refresh and expand your understanding of the EiE curriculum.

Watch this Spotlight Video, “The Engineering Design Process in Action,” to learn about the age-appropriate, five-step Engineering Design Process that’s at the heart of every curriculum unit.

From all of us here at EiE, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  We're excited to take this chance to thank you for all your support and feedback this year, and to say how grateful we are for the chance to work with you and grow with you.

The EiE website underwent a major redesign in 2014 . . .  and educators noticed! This past June the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) named eie.org a 2015 “Best Website for Teaching & Learning.” As part of the award, AASL sponsors a series of webinars so you can learn more about each site. Registration for the EiE webinar is now open.

The hour-long session is scheduled for Weds. February 3^rd, 2016 at 5 PM Eastern. It’s free and open to the public, but only the first 100 registrants are guaranteed a spot. So if you’re interested, register today!