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In this episode, we talk with Alicia Trout, P.E., about how she transitioned from engineering to teaching, the importance of middle school engineering education, and how she keeps the lessons engaging and relevant. Alicia also talks about the challenges of teaching a diverse group of students and the need for more diversity in engineering, and emphasizes the importance of incorporating real-world engineering challenges into the curriculum.
Engineering Quotes:
Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Alicia:
- Did you become a teacher without needing to get a teaching credential, even though it’s usually required for people in that profession?
- How do you make it easy for middle schoolers to understand concepts and learn new skills?
- How has it been teaching subjects like circuits and other types of engineering that weren’t originally part of your expertise?
- How do you go about sparking interest, aside from projects, and what specific strategies do you use to engage students?
- How do you integrate real-world engineering challenges into your lessons for the students?
- Do you engage in additional local outreach activities beyond teaching structural aspects and working with UC San Diego students to expose your students to various engineering fields?
- Can you describe what a typical engineering lesson is like?
- Is managing the pace of diverse learning speeds your primary challenge, or are there other significant challenges you face in teaching technical topics?
- Where do you think middle school engineering education is headed in the future?
- What advice would you give to those interested in pursuing a career in engineering education?
- Is the graduate school you mentioned earlier the phase that serves as a crucial part of professional change?
