Quick Take on ... Exploring Careers in Engineering
Professional groups representing engineers in many fields have developed web sites to introduce middle school
students to career opportunities. All of the sites described here are noteworthy for their appealing graphics,
kid-friendly approach, and access to the personal stories of young engineers. The importance of math and science
learning is emphasized throughout.
The Engineering Alphabet
http://www.engineeringk12.org/students/so_you_want_to_be_an_engineer/the_engineering_alphabet.htm
Links to pages of information about engineering fields, from aerospace to transportation, are featured at this K-12 site, sponsored
by the American Society for Engineering Education. Also available from the homepage are personal stories of young engineers and resources
for teachers.
Civil Engineering and Math
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/56461.html
In response to a student question about what concepts of math and physics are used by civil engineers,
Dr. Math of Math Forum gives a four-part answer. He also points out that most professionals need solid math
skills in areas other than their specialty; for example, making business decisions.
Discover Engineering.org
http://www.discoverengineering.org/aboutengineers.asp
This site introduces careers in engineering with a choice of features designed to appeal to students in middle school and up: games, links to PBS shows, profiles of young engineers, downloadables from a number of sources, and links to activities and projects.
Engineer Girl!
http://www.engineergirl.org/
The National Academy of Engineering created this web site to acquaint young women with the opportunities for
them in the engineering fields. Students can email questions to practicing engineers. A section of the web site
called Celebration of Women in Engineering provides resources for parents, teachers, and other mentors to use
in encouraging girls in math and science.
TryEngineering.org
http://tryengineering.org/home.php
Designed to be a resource for students and their parents, teachers and school counselors, this site is a portal
to information about engineering and engineering careers. Teachers will find a section of lesson plans that align
with education standards and apply engineering principles in the classroom. Students can ask questions of practicing
engineers and undergraduate students.
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Copyright
September 2004-2008 — The Ohio State University. This material is based upon work
supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0424671. Any
opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of
the National Science Foundation.
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