TIES to STEM: University outreach model for teachers in K-12 STEM schools to be trained in engineering skills

This paper discusses plans to establish the `TIES to STEM´ outreach program for K-12 STEM school teachers at our University. TIES denotes Training in Engineering Skills and comprises the engineering education program, the pre-engineering curriculum, and the cyber-instructional networks to integrate the K-12 STEM education programs with the engineering disciplines at institutes of higher education. The engineering education program creates the opportunity for K-12 school teachers to learn and apply the engineering design process, engineering technology, and skills in the products approved and used by the engineering industry. The teachers will be better prepared to (a) teach STEM concepts to the K-12 students (b) revise the content and delivery of the K-12 STEM curriculum (c) advance their STEM careers in engineering and engineering technology. The pre-engineering curriculum for the middle school and high school students (a) improves the STEM preparation of the students (b) motivates and encourages the students to pursue degree programs in engineering and/or engineering technology at institutes of higher education. The networks based on cyber-instruction facilitate the widespread dissemination of course content, involve the teachers from widespread K-12 schools and school districts, and promote cohort identification and professional collaboration among the educators.