‘If
I’d known about the opportunities in Engineering in when I was ten, I have no
doubt I’d be an engineer now. But how can we expect younger students and their
teachers to appreciate the diverse possibilities in engineering when algorithms
don’t always lead them in that direction?
Play
is how children learn best, most come hard wired at the age of 10 to play Top
Trumps. Give them a pack of Engineering Curiosity cards and they will find out
about 48 different engineering roles, built around the experiences of real
engineers. If they can’t get hold of a pack, they can get them online where
they will also find a ‘Tik-Tok’ style video clips from the engineer who
inspired the card.
Engineers
across the South West are represented. They span cultures, generations, and represents
start-ups, global companies, CEOs, degree apprentices and pretty much
everything else between. A diverse array of industry sectors is exemplified,
and, for the purposes of game playing, the engineers have been divided into 13 different
‘families’ with the intent of stimulating discussion. Accompanying notes will
encourage students to think about who might work with who, and what projects
they may collaborate on. Cards also alert children to the sectors and skills
that are emerging as important to the future of the planet.
‘Engineering Curiosity’ will be played, and
played again, whether online, watching all the films to find their favourite,
or when back in school using the physical pack during ‘play’ times. The intent
is to fire their curiosity, prompting them to find out more and talk about
engineering.
Some
of the sharp ones amongst you will be thinking that there are usually 52 cards
in a pack. And you’d be right. With the help of children from local primary
schools, a ‘future’ engineer family will be included to create controversy and
encourage debate. Will the ten-year-olds of today find themselves employed in
later life as an ‘Anti-wobbologist?’.
Research
by the GE Foundation who funded previous My Future My Choice games for learning
tells us that this card game appeal to a 10-year-old target audience. Teachers
are likely to display them across classroom walls and children will want to
take them home. The resource has universal appeal and everyone playing
‘Engineering Curiosity’ will come away feeling inspired and educated too!