Chapter 13: TExploring the Use of Visual Data to Uncover Science Students’ Conceptions of an Engineer and Engineering

Science and engineering are human intellectual endeavors, with their own respective communities of practitioners, unique bodies of established knowledge and practices, and cross-cutting ideas and approaches (National Research Council [NRC], 2011). Although science and engineering work are often portrayed as being similar in nature and there is much overlap across the two disciplines, one may say there is just as much difference that exists across science and engineering. In particular, engineering generally yields outcomes that include products and processes rather than theories and scientific knowledge (National Academy of Engineering [NAE] and NRC, 2009). The nature of work within the disciplines also varies. Engineers solve specific problems using the design process, while scientists inquire into natural systems (NAE and NRC, 2009). Adopting and accurately representing these ideas and principles for science and engineering have become important components of a national effort to move science education toward a more coherent, globally responsive vision. The National Research Council (2011) recently presented the nation’s Conceptual Framework for New K12 Science Standards. Embedded is this reform document is the integrated role science and engineering plays in providing students with fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to participate freely and productively in solving humanity’s most pressing and future challenges (NRC, 2011).