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Table 1 Descriptive codes assigned to unit plans

From: Conceptual connections between science and engineering in elementary teachers’ unit plans

Dimension

Coding description

Science content domain

Life science/physical science/earth and space: Identified by examining how the related science content is categorized within the NGSS.

Engineering curriculum used

Published curriculum: The engineering activities within the unit are sourced from published curriculum materials. The activities are modified and adapted to varying degrees.

Made from scratch: No pre-existing curriculum used; the engineering activities were developed from scratch by participants.

Timing of engineering placement

Beginning/middle/end: Engineering is localized to the specified part of the unit.

Throughout: Engineering is interspersed throughout the unit.

Type of engineering instruction a

Design challenge: Students are presented a design scenario and students must utilize identifiable engineering design practices

Problem/scenario: Students are presented a design scenario but only explore the problem; students do not engage in trying to address the problem through design.

Presentation: Information presented to students about engineering or engineers (e.g., information about fields of engineering). Information can be presented through a slide show, book, video, demonstration, etc.

Something else: Although identified as engineering in the unit, the activity does not involve engineering design practices, or does not explicitly address any engineering concepts.

  1. aThese codes were not mutually exclusive