Professor Amr M. Baz

 

 

 

 
search

UMD    This Site


 






The University of Maryland's Research Associate Professor Leigh Abts' (Bioengineering/College of Education) effort to expand the next generation of engineers is featured in Discover magazine.

The article, titled "E is for Engineering: Empowering students to design a more sustainable future," focuses on the need to improve K-12 engineering curriculum as well as create a test to measure outcomes of engineering education.

For the past eight years, Abts, an expert in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, has worked to develop an engineering Advanced Placement (AP) assessment for high school students. Rather than a multiple-choice exam, students will be presented with a problem, develop a prototype, and come up with a solution. He envisions the test as an online portfolio, the Innovation Portal, where students submit videos and sketches to show their thought process and problem solving skills. The portal provides a universal rubric for grading projects based on the design process.  

"It is not enough to measure a student's grasp of the subject matter," Abts says. "Evaluating how that student approaches a problem or task to find workable solutions is more important."

The engineering AP test is currently under review by the College Board.

An abbreviated version of the article is available here. The full article is available only to Discover magazine subscribers.

Learn more about Abts' research here.



November 13, 2013


«Previous Story  

 

 

Current Headlines

Search Open for Structures Faculty

Eun Joins UMD Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty

UMD’s Ayyub Leads Use of Climate Information for Infrastructure Adaptation

Hering Delivers Civil Empowerment Seminar

Goulias Tapped to Develop Renewable Construction Materials

Brick by Brick: The Clark School Celebrates LGBTQ+ Engineers

Maryland Engineering: #16 in the Country for Undergraduate Engineering

Sueños Sin Fronteras: The Clark School Celebrates Latine Engineers

Eun Co-Chairs KGS/Geotech-Institute Joint Workshop

UMD Students Win Green Challenge Award in Denmark

 

 

 

©2010  |  University of Maryland

UMD Home Clark School Home Home