Tag Archives: engineering

The future is here

By Mary Bigelow | Published: May 23, 2013

In addition to NSTA publications, I read many others related to science and education, both in print and online. I usually scan the pages and images, focusing on articles of interest. However, the May 2013 issue of Smithsonian was so compelling, I had to read it cover to cover! The theme was “The Future Is [...]

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Birding and Engineering Makes for a Great Week

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: February 17, 2013

Two worthy programs to participate in this year or mark on your calendar for next year. Great Outdoor Bird Count Monday is the last day for this year, so it’s not too late to take part in a citizen science project that will help scientists answer questions about bird populations (of not just North America, [...]

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Science by Design: Construct a Boat, Catapult, Glove, and Greenhouse

By Carole Hayward | Published: February 15, 2013

When I came across this NSTA Press® title, I was reminded of comedian Stephen Wright’s one liner: “A lot of people ask me, if I were shipwrecked, and could only have one book, what would it be? I always say ‘How to Build a Boat.’” In which case, he might find Science by Design: Construct a [...]

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Focus on the new standards

By Mary Bigelow | Published: January 23, 2013

Interested in what using the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) could look like in a classroom? The editor has a summary of significant components outlined in the Framework for K-12 Science Education, which is a guide for the development of the standards. The featured articles in this issue each start with an overview of how [...]

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Scientific and engineering practices

By Mary Bigelow | Published: January 16, 2013

If you’re concerned or apprehensive about the NGSS, this month’s Commentary Preparing for the New Standards should be on your to-read list. The author, a high school physics teacher, describes his experiences in including engineering in his classes and basing student learning on the practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas as described in the Framework [...]

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Build it!

By Mary Bigelow | Published: December 17, 2012

When I was a child, one of my favorite toys was a set of wooden blocks, in a variety of shapes and sizes. We would play for hours, sometimes building models of structures and other times experimenting with designs and patterns. We also had Lincoln Logs and Tinkertoys, and we realized that different materials could [...]

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Science of the Summer Olympics: the strength and flexibility of Oscar Pistorius

By Tyson Brown | Published: September 10, 2012

Oscar Pistorius attracted our attention in both the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. First, he fought long and hard to become the first amputee to run in Olympic events. Then, during competition in the Paralympics he expressed concerns that other Paralympic runners were using the same assistive technology as he does—“blades”—to a competitive advantage. So… [...]

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Science of the Summer Olympics: measuring a champion

By Tyson Brown | Published: August 27, 2012

As Official Time-Keeper of the 2012 Olympic Games, Omega’s high-tech timing devices have come a long way since the 1932 games in L.A. where athletes were timed to the nearest one-tenth of a second. The company brought thirty “official” stopwatches to those games to be used in all timed events. (Until then, timekeepers brought their [...]

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Science of the Summer Olympics: engineering for mobility

By Tyson Brown | Published: August 24, 2012

A record 4200+ Paralympians will compete in 20 sports at the London 2012 Games that begin August 29. Of the 20 sports included, 17 are Paralympic versions of sports played in the Olympic Games. Wheelchair rugby is one of the unique ones. Find out how science knowledge and engineering design contribute to the success of [...]

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Science of the Summer Olympics: designing a fast pool

By Tyson Brown | Published: August 14, 2012

We already knew Michael Phelps was good. Now Missy Franklin is a household name. But how much of their achievement might be attributed to the pool? Find out about the design and engineering of the London Aquatics Center in this installment of Science of the Summer Olympics—Designing a Fast Pool. Who knew how much engineering [...]

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