Energy Inquiry: Hands-on, Inquiry Learning Methods to Enhance STEM Learning by Engaging Students in Renewable Energy Solutions (Research to Practice)

Abstract

K-12 engineering education in the United States faces various challenges, from a seeming lack of interest in the field within American students to ongoing uncertainty among educators regarding how to develop and implement relevant curriculum standards. Despite these existing obstacles, Island Energy Inquiry TM (IEI), in existence since 2009, has introduced engineering concepts to more than 286 elementary, middle, and high school teachers and over 45,000 students across the state of Hawaii through a specially designed ad hoc science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) integration approach as termed in The Status and Nature of K-12 Engineering Education in the United States. 1 IEI is a place-based, culturally competent Professional Development (PD) program that educates K-12 teachers and their students on renewable energy solutions-a highly relevant issue in the state-and builds STEM skills and methods through student-focused inquiry learning. Current uncertainties of K-12 engineering education in the United States