Overview of the EELC

An Overview of the EELC

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Overview

WHY the EELC?

For those of you who have been involved in the field of education these past few years, it probably seems like the quantity of education reform movements you have been asked to consider or implement has equaled your number of years in teaching. The shelf life of many of these reform movements was frequently short since the way in which people learn was not fully understood and practical methods of implementation were not considered.

Recent advances in technology have enabled us to research and understand the learning process in new ways and has provided much valuable information about the cognitive processes which, in turn, should provide a basis for new educational programs to be successful.

However, what is often lacking are practical ways and adequate time to incorporate this research into an average classroom. Many of us have been put in a situation where we have been told by district administrators (present company excepted, of course), "restructure... and by the way, you have two in-service days to accomplish this using a program that has been successfully tested on small rodents and Rhesus monkeys."

Trying to implement reform under these conditions is, "Like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." The dramatic changes that have occurred in society, and the many advancements in science and technology require dramatic changes in the way students are educated, and new education programs need to address these needs.

WHAT is the EELC?

The curriculum is based on the central problem of creating an Engineered Environment representing your local habitat. This engineered environment can range in size from a child's wading pool to the free standing structure like the MidAtlantic Bay Mesocosm at Glasgow High School, depending on available resources.

In the context of designing and constructing the engineered environment, students learn important concepts in Science, Mathematics, and Technology. These concepts are reinforced by experiencing the practical applications of this knowledge and the unique problem-solving strategies each discipline brings to the project: The Technological Design Loop, The Scientific Method and Mathematical Reasoning. As students work with each other, the instructors and community experts on the engineered environment project, they develop skills in collaboration, communication and problem solving.

Program Framework

The program is driven by a complex central problem, the investigation and development of an engineered environment, which serves as the basis for smaller auxillary problems which are easier for the students to solve. The development of the engineered environment integrates a variety of skills and incorporates the standards and contents of three major subjects: math, technology and science. Student understanding evolves as the skills are used and information is discovered and employed.