This past weekend, e4usa hosted its Launch Conference at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, a transformative event for the future of engineering education. We extend our sincere gratitude to the University of Maryland for generously providing their beautiful facilities and for being an amazing partner to e4usa.
The conference started with a memorable opening night, featuring the "e4usa Visionary Reunion Cocktails & Dinner for All." Our Executive Director, Stacy Klein-Gardner, served as emcee and introduced distinguished guest speakers: UMD Engineering Dean Sam Graham and UMD President Darryll Pines, who also serves as the Chairman of the e4usa Board of Directors. They shared inspiring reflections on their involvement with e4usa and the history, growth, and promising future trajectory of both e4usa and engineering education.
On the second day, our keynote speaker, Dr. Shruti Ghanekar, a research engineer with the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) under Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Research Institutes, delivered a powerful message on workforce development and outreach. She also highlighted opportunities for high school students to explore engineering and research pathways.
The highlight of the day was the "Impact by Design: e4usa Showcase." This celebratory event recognized the outstanding work of our teachers and students, showcasing their creativity and the adaptability of e4usa lessons and projects across diverse student groups. Attendees were able to talk with fellow educators about the work they were presenting and network with each other. They also used sticky notes to provide feedback and words of encouragement. It was a proud moment for all attendees to witness the meaningful impact educators are making in their classrooms.
Following the showcase, attendees engaged in a variety of professional development workshops designed to support educators, liaisons, and special guests in enhancing their teaching practices:
- Assessment in Action: Leveraging MyDesign and the End-of-Course Assessment: Focused on assessing engineering learning while supporting students' individual growth.
- Reflection Lens: e4usa Teacher Progress Snapshots & Reflections (TPSR): Encouraged teachers to reflect on their progress and complete mid-year snapshots.
- Growing Skills for Teachers and Students: CAD in e4usa: Explored CAD integration in units 3 and 4 and preparation for the OnShape Associate Exam.
- e4usa Extensions: Experienced e4usa Teachers Co-strategize: Experienced teachers collaborated on extending e4usa beyond the legacy course and exploring leadership opportunities.
- Blueprint for Writing: Strategies for Engineering Students: Provided strategies for supporting student writing development in engineering contexts.
- Engineering Access: Universal Design for Learning Toolbox: Explored UDL Guidelines 3.0 for reducing barriers and honoring learner identities.
- Project Management Pains? Project Management Strategies for Teachers and Students: Led by e4usa's Chief Program Officer, Abubakr Hamid, this session introduced project management strategies and certification options for both educators and students.
The final day focused on strategic thinking and planning. We deeply value the feedback and input from our teacher partners as we continue to grow and evolve e4usa, positioning ourselves as a leader in engineering education.
A special thank you goes to our sponsors, the National Science Foundation (NSF), OnShape, and MathWorks, who supported the conference and led sessions for teachers to enhance their skills and expand their teaching tools. We greatly appreciate their collaboration and look forward to continued partnerships.
Through this Launch Conference, we've taken a significant step toward strengthening our community, enhancing our curriculum, and charting the course for e4usa's future impact. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success, and we are excited for what lies ahead!
Check out the slide show below for all of our wonderful pictures!
