NDLI: CAPSULE: An Innovative Capstone-Based Pedagogical Approach to Engage High School Students in STEM Learning

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	Zeid, Abe Kamarthi, Sagar Duggan, Claire Chin, Jessica
Copyright Year	2011
Abstract	School children in general and high school students, in particular more often than not lose interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. Underrepresented and female students are even more discouraged by STEM courses. Our investigation and interviews with high school teachers cite that the main reason for such disinterest is the disconnect between school and reality. Students cannot relate the abstract concepts they learn in physics, biology, chemistry, or math to their surroundings. This paper discusses a new capstone project-based approach that closes this gap. This work is an outcome of an NSF funded project called CAPSULE (Capstone Unique Learning Experience). We use the top-down pedagogical approach instead of the traditional bottom-up approach. The top-down approach relates the abstract concepts to exciting open-ended capstone projects where students are engaged in designing solutions, like products to solve open-ended problems. This top-down approach is modeled after the college-level capstone design courses. The paper presents the model, its details, and implementation. It also presents the formative and summative evaluation of the model after deploying it in the Boston Public Schools, a system heavily populated by the targeted student groups.
Starting Page	305
Ending Page	314
Page Count	10
File Format	PDF
ISBN	9780791854914
DOI	10.1115/IMECE2011-62187
Volume Number	Volume 5: Engineering Education and Professional Development
Conference Proceedings	ASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
Language	English
Publisher Date	2011-11-11
Publisher Place	Denver, Colorado, USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Design Design education Engineering teachers Chemistry Students Education Mathematics Biology Performance Physics
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
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