Successes of an engineering and technology institute for secondary school teachers

The future of any country lies in the ability to use its resources to build a strong and competitive economy. The most important resources any country can count on are the young men and women still in secondary schools. By introducing students to the type of work engineers do and by showing them how the principles of science are applied in the real world, students will have a greater appreciation of science and technology. A pilot teacher training workshop was held during July 1995 at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. During the workshop, the teachers learned about engineering concepts and the role of engineers in society. A workbook of suggested engineering discussions and activities was developed and presented to each workshop participant. The results of an evaluation are highly encouraging.