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Work in Progress: Improving K-12 Mathematics Understanding with Engineering Design Projects

Engineering design projects can provide a rich opportunity to enhance student knowledge in core disciplinary subject areas, such as mathematics and science. The informed design process was created as part of a NSF materials development program and formed the engineering design framework for this study. Structured mathematics activities (knowledge and skill builders $KSBs) were developed and linked to the design challenge. In this challenge, students apply the mathematical reasoning to solve an engineering problem; the design of a food dehydrator. Four middle and high school teachers, from four different and diverse schools, participated in this research study. They had all used informed design and had taught the five-week unit on dehydration before. They were familiar with the pedagogical strategies inherent in the informed design process. The teachers implemented the unit in winter and spring of 2006. The paper will present preliminary results of the research which indicate a dramatic improvement in mathematical reasoning