Have you been wondering how well your students understand engineering and technology concepts? Have you been wishing for formative assessment tools in both English and Spanish? If so, this is the book for you.

Like the other 11 books in the bestselling Uncovering Student Ideas series, Uncovering Student Ideas About Engineering and Technology does the following:

Brings you engaging questions, also known as formative assessment probes. The book’s 32 probes are designed to uncover what students know—or think they know—about what technology and engineering are, how to define related problems, and how to design and test solutions. The probes will help you uncover students’ current thinking about everything from the purpose of technology to who can become an engineer to how an engineering design process works.
Offers field-tested teacher materials that provide best answers along with distracters designed to reveal preconceptions and misunderstandings that students commonly hold. Since the content is explained in clear, everyday language, even engineering and technology novices can grasp and teach it effectively.
Is convenient even for time-starved teachers like you. The new probes are short, easy-to-administer activities that come ready to reproduce for speakers of both English and Spanish. In addition to explaining the engineering and technology content, the teacher materials note links to A Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards and suggest grade-appropriate ways to present material so students will learn it accurately.


Uncovering Student Ideas About Engineering and Technology has the potential to help you take an important first step in teaching for understanding—and perhaps transform your teaching about STEM-related topics.