Topic 1
What is 'ENGINEERING' ?
Embedded Files
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Learning aims
Learning aims
To discover the wide range of engineering careers available in the UK today.
To consider what skills and attributes an engineer needs.
(Why am I doing this?)
(Why am I doing this?)
So that I can relate my own personality and skills with real-world engineers.
To dispel social myths and preconceptions about modern engineering and engineers.
Lesson vocabulary
Lesson vocabulary
Attribute
Attribute
singular noun: attribute; plural noun: attributes
a quality or feature of a person or thing.
Stereotype
Stereotype
noun: stereotype
a widely held, but fixed and over-simplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Preconception
Preconception
noun: preconception
an idea or opinion formed beforehand. i.e. before a person is aware of the facts about something.
Activities
Activities
What exactly is an engineer?
When you hear the word ‘engineer’, what do you imagine that person looking like? Do you have any 'preconceptions'?
Ask yourself:
What do you imagine them doing in their job?
Where do you imagine them working?
What are they holding?
What are they working on?
Task, 5 mins
Task, 5 mins
Working alone, using the worksheet provided by your teacher (see right), sketch an image of what you think a typical engineer 'looks' like.
Success criteria:
Label your sketch and add annotation to explain each of their features or attributes. E.g. Are they male or female? Are they young or old?
Do they wear safety equipment? Do they carry tools? Which ones? Consider personality attributes as well as physical ones.You are free to sketch what YOU think an engineer looks like. Don't be influenced by the interpretations and ideas of others.
Your sketch does not need to be a perfect masterpiece!
Task, 20 mins
Task, 20 mins
Let's watch the 'This is Engineering' video below. Following the video...
Answer the questions in the Google Form below or here.
You may be asked by your teacher to share your answers with the rest of the class.
If the webpage below does not function properly, try opening it in its own window by clicking here.
If the webpage below does not function properly, try opening it in its own window by clicking here. Scroll down for more.
Main tasks
Main tasks
These tasks are intended to be carried out independently of each other. They will introduce to you examples of real-world engineers and ask you to consider what makes each unique as well as what attributes they each need to succeed.
Your teacher may choose to deliver these activities over two or more lessons.
We Engineer...
We Engineer...
From the Science Museum
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