Hey, engineers….I want you to think back.

Waaaay back to when you were a kid.

Like maybe 10 or 12 years old.

Do you remember learning about science? Math?

How about engineering?

Hmm.

When was the first time you heard about engineering? Why did you even choose engineering as a career?

We hear all too often that students still don’t know what engineering is.

The Ontario Curriculum for Mathematics (for elementary students) tells us that…

“K–12 STEM education is the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including cross-curricular and/or integrative study, and the application of those subjects in real world contexts.”

The word “engineering” shows up 19 times in this 594 page math curriculum document.

What about the science you ask?

In the Ontario Curriculum for Science and Technology (for elementary students), the word “engineering” shows up twice. Gulp!

And yet, there are still thousands of kids choosing to study engineering. In fact, it’s quite a competitive course to get accepted into!

But….you knew there was going to be a BUT!

Are these kids choosing engineering for the right reasons? Do they REALLY know what they’re signing up for? Did you?

Could this be part of our “leaky pipeline problem”?

Reference: http://www.onwie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/White-Paper-Final-Draft.pdf

If we can sharpen our focus for the “E” in STEM education and are more deliberate about how we are messaging engineering then the next generation of engineers will have a better idea of what to expect. 

Who knows…if we do a better job of talking about engineering, maybe we’ll even encourage kids who would never have considered it to give it a try??

At Engineers of Tomorrow, we believe in the power of storytelling. Specifically, we want to amplify BETTER stories about engineering. 

They’re out there!

We just need to turn the dial to the “E” in STEM and crank up the volume!

Got a great engineering story that needs to be heard?

Find out more and and how you can help at engineersoftomorrow.ca