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Knowles Engineering
 Leveraging engineering design for science and mathematics education


Why Engineering? 

Engineering provides engaging contexts to learn and practice math or science.

"The engineering design process is really useful as a way to approach word problems (particularly word problems that don't have a specific question but it's also good for the traditional word problems, too). 

"I think it also helps build connections between math and science classes because it encourages me to use problems with meaningful contexts as well using language that's similar to what would be used in a science or engineering class - which helps my students build connections between math and science so that they can more easily apply tools that they learn in either class in the other one, too." 

-Math Teacher and Participant, South Carolina
                 
Find out more about why Knowles is passionate about including engineering in math and science classes.  



What We Do
We work with teachers and districts to bring engineering into math and science classrooms through building teachers' capacity for teaching their existing content in exciting STEM-integrated ways. We currently offer the following services but would be happy to discuss other customized options.
                   
    Knowles Academy Courses
    • Engineering Core Program: Year-long professional learning including one-week workshop and one year of coaching. Endorsed by the American Society for Engineering Education.
    • Introductory workshops
    • One-on-one coaching and support
    • Opportunities for professional leadership
                    
    District-Based Services
    • Engineering-integrated curriculum development
    • On-site staff development programs
    • Classroom observation and debriefing
    • Remote observation and coaching
    • Administrative support
 
Who We Are:
Knowles Engineering developers, instructors, and coaches are high school science and math teachers around the United States who are interested in collaborating to improve engineering instruction. The group (originally called the Engineering Task Force) began in 2013 when about a dozen Senior Fellows (teachers who completed the five-year Knowles Teacher Initiative's Fellowship Program) began applying the engineering design process to the instruction of engineering itself. Knowles supported the group by hosting two to three annual meetings, online collaboration space, and organizational feedback as they organized themselves via a peer leadership team.

In the first two years, volunteer members of this group of classroom teachers used their collaborative and networking skills, along with their understanding of content and pedagogy, to explore engineering design and work together to create resources that would support them and other teachers in classrooms.  In 2015, as the group shifted its focus towards outreach beyond Knowles, it was renamed the Knowles Engineering group and brought under the Knowles Academy. This sub-page contains more information about the group's current mission and vision. 
Contact:

Knowles Academy Program Officer Katey Shirey, PhD
katey.shirey@knowlesteachers.org
(856) 608-0001 x 7019