Work in Progess: Methods Implemented by a Non-Traditional Textbook to Enable Student Success in Engineering

摘要

Math pedagogy continues to be discussed and debated in the K-12 environment amidst introduction of Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Instructors are now put in a potentially awkward position as they are required to integrate the foreign subject of engineering, the "e" in STEM education, with little to no background or context. While teachers can enhance their knowledge of new teaching strategies through attending STEM workshops at or outside of their school, current textbooks fail to include authentic engineering examples and thus offer little to no support to teachers. Also, few textbooks offer content that foster mathematical perseverance and literacy. Instead, these texts prefer to stampede on without clarification on algebraic or conceptual steps that may be ambiguous to students. With these points in mind, a math textbook which integrates engineering at a practical and understandable level would be immensely valuable as teachers strive to satisfy the new standards (both Common Core and NGSS) and prepare students to pursue engineering degree programs. This paper describes the development of this textbook.