Teaching apprenticeships for engineering students

Students who pursue academic careers will eventually have a major responsibility for university-level education. Many undergraduates find pre-college teaching an attractive option, particularly in view of shrinking job markets. Even those students who find employment in industry will spend some portion of their time educating customers, vendors, colleagues and support personnel. Thus, teaching is an essential skill for our students, but one that is largely ignored in engineering education. This paper describes several efforts which engage engineering students both in teaching and in reflecting on educational issues. In one project, undergraduates serve as teaching assistants in elementary school classrooms helping teachers support children's investigations of everyday technologies and the urban environment. Many of the participants in this program have expressed strong interest in becoming K-12 teachers. In the second example, graduate and undergraduate engineering students collaborate with the author in teaching an undergraduate course. In a new effort, directed more specifically towards certification, engineering undergraduates work with exemplary secondary science and technology teachers. In each of these cases, participants have regular opportunities to discuss and reflect upon their teaching experiences. In doing so, they develop critical thinking skills, participate in the development of innovative programs, and perhaps help to reform educational institutions.