The K12 Engineering Education Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Teaching Accessibility by Building Picture Books for the Blind May 18, 2019

Show notes

How can you teach universal design to kids and teens? Have them build accessible games and books, according to The Build a Better Book project, from The University of Colorado Boulder. Guests Dr. Stacey Forsythe and Dr. Kathryn Penzkover develop the Build a Better Book project at UC Boulder, which provides curriculum for schools and libraries to teach people to create books and games for the visually impaired. Along the way, they can learn about the design process, makerspace technology, the arts, empathy, and community engagement. Drs. Forsythe and Penzkover spoke on the podcast during South by Southwest (SXSW) 2019 in Austin, Texas. The cover art for this episode shows a picture book and a chessboard designed by participants in the Build a Better Book project, as shown during SXSW. Both were designed to preserve function and aesthetics even when the reader or player can’t see. Related to this episode: • Build a Better Book project: http://buildabetterbook.org • Dr. Stacy Forsythe: https://www.colorado.edu/sciencediscovery/stacey-forsyth • Dr. Kathryn Penzkover: https://www.colorado.edu/sciencediscovery/kathryn-penzkover • CU Science Discovery: https://www.colorado.edu/sciencediscovery/ • Wikki stix: https://www.wikkistix.com/ • Universal design, as described from the North Carolina State University College of Design: https://projects.ncsu.edu/ncsu/design/cud/about_ud/udprinciples.htm • Twitter profile for Build a Better Book: https://twitter.com/buildbetterbook Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Educating a Cybersecurity Professional Apr 25, 2019

Show notes

In this age of growing internet technology and connected computers, cybersecurity engineers and computer scientists will be more critical. Software engineer Sam Houston joins the podcast to talk about how she got into the security field, led by interests in computers and a desire to protect those in need. Sam is also a former student of Rachel, and we talk about key memories in her K-12 and college education – shoutouts to Miss Avery and Dr. Burris. Related to this episode: • Target hack in 2013: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/target-settles-2013-hacked-customer-data-breach-18-5-million-n764031 • Sam Houston State University: https://www.shsu.edu/ • Sam Houston digital forensics PhD: http://catalog.shsu.edu/graduate/college-departments/science-and-engineering-technology/computer-science/digital-and-cyber-forensic-science-phd/ • FBI Field Office in Houston: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/houston • Virus threat that deletes itself: https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-finds-new-trojan-malware-that-deletes-itself/ • Physics of a trebuchet: http://www.stormthecastle.com/trebuchet/trebuchet-physics.htm • Building a trebuchet lesson plan: https://tryengineering.org/teacher/trebuchet-toss/ • Stamps saying “You shall not pass” from Gandalf, and similar products: http://www.geekystamps.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html • Ada language: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_(programming_language) • Intuit internships: https://careers.intuit.com/job-category/21/university • Raytheon internships: https://jobs.raytheon.com/college-jobs • Grace Hopper Conference: https://ghc.anitab.org/ • Peopleware investigations from IBM: https://www.amazon.com/Peopleware-Productive-Projects-Teams-3rd/dp/0321934113 • Grace Hopper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Highlights of SXSW Edu 2019 Apr 09, 2019

Show notes

If you missed the 2019 edition of the South by Southwest Education (SXSW Edu) conference in Austin, Texas, we rehash some highlights that you may have missed. We talk about empathy, accessibility, and a few new tech tools available to educators discovered at the conference. Related to this episode: • SXSW Edu: https://sxswedu.com • UT McCombs School of Business: https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/ • Yes, And game, as described by Mary Elisabeth: https://medium.com/improv4/saying-yes-and-a-principle-for-improv-business-life-fd050bccf7e3 • Build a Better Book project at CU Boulder: https://www.colorado.edu/project/bbb/ • Empathic lead user analysis, as described in a study: http://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=1604193 • Keynote of Patrick Awuah of Ashesi Univesrity at SXSW EDU 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DejcJynozg • Humble ISD PBL curriculum related to Hurricane Harvey: https://www.humbleisd.net/Page/108658 • MindCet, Israeli firm for voice technology in education: http://www.mindcet.org/en/ • Dyscalculia simulator from Understood.edu: https://www.understood.org/en/tools/through-your-childs-eyes • Google Slides automatic live captioning: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/9109474?hl=en • Video of Google live captioning from the Pios Labs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BupUR7ElQPk/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet • Video of the VR Merge tool showing a model of the solar system: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bum3ekGF0MT/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet • Unity3D platform for authoring digital games and environments: https://unity.com/ • Cult of Pedagogy blog: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/ • Jennifer Gonzalez keynote, “The Aerodynamics of Exceptional Schools”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s_NkSEWJZg Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Fixing School Finance Mar 12, 2019

Show notes

Texans across the state and across the political divide agree: public school funding needs fixing. What that means exactly, however, is tricky. In Part 1, Texas State Representative Donna Howard explains the school finance conundrum and its evolution over the years, along with some potential solutions floating around the legislature. In Part 2, political consultant Kolby Monnig argues that citizens must influence education laws by communicating with their representatives, and she demystifies that process. Lastly, in Part 3, educators, school support personnel, and unions rally for K-12 education reforms across the board. Related to this episode: • Representative Donna Howard: https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=48 • Donna Howard’s infographic on Texas school finance, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texansforchange/photos/pcb.2262081777448971/2262081220782360/?type=3&theater • Liar’s affidavit: https://www.dontmesswithtaxes.com/2006/10/new_liars_affid.html • Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) “rainy day” fund: https://comptroller.texas.gov/economy/fiscal-notes/2016/september/rainy-day.php • Texas Standard article on a first public proposal for how to reform school finance, from March 8th, 2019: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/03/08/texas-senate-files-its-version-school-finance-reform-bill/ • Kolby Monnig (@blueoceantx), Blue Ocean Consulting: https://blueoceantx.com/ • Copper pennies: https://www.texastribune.org/2011/03/31/how-to-navigate-texas-school-finance-system/ • Who Represents Me? https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home • Texas Teacher Retirement System: https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx • Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/ • Rally for Texas education funding on March 11, 2019: https://www.statesman.com/news/20190311/hundreds-of-texas-teachers-rally-at-capitol-for-funding-against-merit-pay • Project Vida: https://www.pvida.net/ Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Water Systems with the Army Corps of Engineers Mar 04, 2019

Show notes

Problem-solving, technology, and public service all combine when you work as an engineer for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Dr. Michael Sterling, PhD, is a lead water resource engineer at the US Army Corps of Engineers, Southwestern Division, and he oversees missions related to water supply, flood prevention, hydroelectric power, and more issues affecting large swaths of the USA. Dr. Sterling also discusses how he came to USACE from the fields of chemical, civil, and environmental engineering, and how to help young people get on a similar path. Related to this episode: • US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): https://www.usace.army.mil/ • USACE Southwest Division (SWD): https://www.swd.usace.army.mil/ • Geographic Information Systems (GIS): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_information_system • Intel International Science Fair (ISEF): https://student.societyforscience.org/intel-isef • ROTC = Reserve Officer Training Corps: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_Officers%27_Training_Corps • Society of American Military Engineers (SAME): https://www.same.org/ • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): https://www.asce.org/ • 2015 Black Engineer of the Year Awards Gala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yda663HthKw Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Artificial Intelligence for Kids Feb 25, 2019

Show notes

The educational technology company Robolink is coming out with a new robotics platform for teaching kids the fundamentals of programming artificial intelligence (AI). Hansol Hong is the CEO and Founder of San Diego-based Robolink. Hansol discusses their latest AI education product Zümi, which won an award at the 2019 International Consumer Electronics Show for innovation. Hansol also talks about their Kickstarter campaigns, the ethics of AI in self-driving cars, drones, and more. Related to this episode: • Robolink: https://www.robolink.com/ • Kickstarter for Robolink’s Zümi: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robolink/driving-into-the-world-of-ai-zumi • Rokit Smart Robot kit” https://www.robolink.com/rokit-smart/ • Arduino microcontroller: https://www.arduino.cc/ • CoDrone: https://robolink.myshopify.com/products/codrone • Erector Sets: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erector_Set • UC San Diego: https://ucsd.edu/ • OLED screens: https://www.oled-info.com/oled-introduction • Herbie the Love Bug: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083428/ • Raspberry Pi computer: https://www.raspberrypi.org/ • TensorFlow Keras for training learning models: https://www.tensorflow.org/guide/keras • Three Laws of Robotics from Isaac Asimov: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics • “The truth behind Facebook AI inventing a new language,” an article written by AI CTO Roman Kucera: https://towardsdatascience.com/the-truth-behind-facebook-ai-inventing-a-new-language-37c5d680e5a7 • OpenCV for machine vision: https://opencv.org/ • NGSS = Next Generation Science Standards: https://www.nextgenscience.org/ • Common Core Standards: http://www.corestandards.org/ • Udacity courses on AI: https://www.udacity.com/course/ai-artificial-intelligence-nanodegree--nd898 • MOOC = Massive open online course • CES convention: https://www.ces.tech/ • Best of Innovation Award at CES 2019: https://www.ces.tech/News/Press-Releases/CES-Press-Release.aspx?NodeID=df3a115a-ef2a-4aa5-bde1-333397b96973 Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Money, Machines, and More Feb 18, 2019

Show notes

Educator Rachel and engineer Pius introduce Season 4 and brainstorm about what interests us in K-12 engineering education today. We talk about school finance reform, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Related to this episode: • Lego programming: https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/learn-to-program • Article on Facebook security breach in 2018: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/technology/facebook-hack-data-breach.html • Article on the Stuxnet virus applied to an Iranian power plant: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/06/01/154162121/as-the-worm-turns-cybersecurity-expert-tracks-blowback-from-stuxnet • AP CS Principles: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-principles/course • Texas Legislative Sessions: http://www.tcdd.texas.gov/public-policy/texas-legislature/ • Article on how school finance works right now in Texas and “Robin Hood” funding: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/02/15/texas-school-funding-how-it-works/ • The Texas Permanent School Fund: https://tea.texas.gov/finance_and_grants/permanent_school_fund/ • SBOE = State Board of Education • Example food web in biology: https://cnx.org/contents/s8Hh0oOc@9.10:YevkaNFi@3/Energy-Flow-through-Ecosystems#fig-ch20_01_05 • TxDOT = Texas Department of Transportation: https://www.txdot.gov/ • Previous episode mentioning on improv for engineering: http://www.k12engineering.net/transcripts/ep9.html • Inside the Actor’s Studio: https://www.bravotv.com/inside-the-actors-studio • FERPA student privacy law: https://www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/records/ferpa • PLC = Professional Learning Community • Engineering Word Of The Day podcast: http://engineeringwordoftheday.com/ • Mozilla Foundation: https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/ • Elon Musk warns about climate change in 2015: https://www.inc.com/huffington-post/elon-musk-sounds-off-on-climate-change.html Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Statics Dec 13, 2018

Show notes

Engineers Sadhan and Pius continue an ongoing series of discussions on the fundamentals of mechanical engineering. Today they talk about what they remember about statics, forces, acceleration, moments, relativity, stars, and more. Related to this episode: • Statics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statics • Dynamics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamics_(mechanics) • Force: https://physics.info/newton-first/ • Newton’s Third Law: https://physics.info/newton-third/ • Theory of Relativity: https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html • Moment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_(physics) • Golden Gate Bridge: http://www.goldengatebridge.org/ • Homeostasis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeostasis • Nuclear fusion: http://www.nuclearconnect.org/know-nuclear/science/nuclear-fusion • Supernovas: https://www.space.com/6638-supernova.html • Black holes: https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/black-holes Our opening music is called “Soar,” and our closing music is called “Polar,” both by artist Chris Pop, used with permission. You can find more music by Chris Pop on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/chrispop99. Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

The Startup Reinventing Invention Kits Nov 08, 2018

Show notes

What are the trends in educational kids’ toys today? How can programming kits be improved? How does an education business start and succeed? Entrepreneur Joseph Greer in Chicago discusses these issues as he describes his STEM education startup, MakeXchange, and its “Invention Lab” Arduino kit. The kit was designed to be more user-friendly and more organized than other Arduino kits. This is the start of Joseph’s goal to make the number one STEM education consumer product company.

• Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/ • Ohm’s Law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm%27s_law • Accenture, consulting corporation: https://www.accenture.com/ • Marc Andreessen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Andreessen • Shawshank Redemption film spoilers: https://youtu.be/5y_O094dGDU • Lego Mindstorms robotics kits: https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms • mHub Chicago, startup incubator: https://mhubchicago.com/ • Fat Brain Toys: https://www.fatbraintoys.com/ • My Science Shop: https://myscienceshop.com/ • MakeXchange YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61eOn-djaK8ubdxzaRWfVA • Sparkiverse STEM education company: https://www.sparkiverselabs.com/ • Raspberry Pi computer: https://www.raspberrypi.org/ • Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago: https://polsky.uchicago.edu/

Our closing music is “Yes And” by Steve Combs, used under a Creative Commons Attribution License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Games and Simulations in Construction Engineering Oct 23, 2018

Show notes

Architectural and civil engineers are using rich digital tools to simulate constructed buildings. Similar tools are also being used in digital video games and virtual reality games that might teach future engineers. Dr. Fadi Castronovo speaks about his efforts to advance engineering education using simulations and games like these. Fadi is an engineering professor at California State University, East Bay (or Cal State East Bay), an architectural engineer by training, and an educational game designer. He also talks about his students’ game to teach sustainability practices, his favorite video games, and his background across the world. Related to this episode: • Dr. Fadi Castronovo: https://www.fadicastronovo.com/ • Download some of Fadi’s educational games: https://www.fadicastronovo.com/research-groups/stem-educational-gaming-research-group • Cal State East Bay engineering: http://www.csueastbay.edu/engineering/ • Cooper-Union engineering: https://cooper.edu/engineering • Penn State University engineering: https://www.engr.psu.edu/ • Dr. John Messner: https://news.psu.edu/expert/john-messner • Dr. Messner's lab: https://www.pennstatecic.org/people.html • Virtual Construction Simulator (VCS): https://www.pennstatecic.org/vcs.html • SimCity, video game series: https://www.ea.com/games/simcity • Rollercoaster Tycoon, video game: http://www.rollercoastertycoon.com/ • Think aloud methods for usability testing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_aloud_protocol • Experiential learning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experiential_learning • Attack of the Recyclops game background: https://peer.asee.org/board-63-development-of-a-virtual-reality-educational-game-for-waste-management-attack-of-the-recyclops • Sketchup 3D modeling software: https://www.sketchup.com/ • Unity game development engine: https://unity3d.com/ • Oculus Rift virtual reality platform: https://www.oculus.com/rift/ • HTC Vive: https://www.vive.com/us/product/vive-virtual-reality-system/ • City of Austin composting program: https://austintexas.gov/austincomposts • City of Austin game development incentives: http://www.austintexas.gov/department/film-digital-media-production-incentives • Auti-Sim, Autism simulator game: http://www.gamesforchange.org/game/auti-sim/ • Civilization, video game: https://civilization.com/ • Magic Leap, company with augmented reality technology: https://www.magicleap.com/ • Dr. Steve Ayer, Arizona State University: https://ssebe.engineering.asu.edu/2018/08/steven-ayer/ Our closing music is “Yes And” by Steve Combs, used under a Creative Commons Attribution License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

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