Teaching the next-gen engineer with Dr Carlotta Berry
Jan 30, 2025
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Dr. Carlotta Berry, a dynamic professor at the Rose-Hulman Institute, shines a light on making STEM education accessible. She discusses her innovative use of TikTok to engage underrepresented students and tackle burnout in education. The conversation explores the importance of creativity in STEM, the need to challenge societal gender perceptions, and the impact of technology on young learners. Carlotta emphasizes experiential learning and the exciting connection between art and engineering, advocating for a narrative shift in education.
Diversifying STEM education is crucial for engaging underrepresented groups, sparking interest in engineering through accessible content on social media platforms.
Integrating art into engineering promotes creativity and critical thinking, allowing students to develop resilience and problem-solving skills in a holistic educational approach.
Deep dives
Embracing a Mission to Diversify STEM
The importance of diversifying STEM fields is highlighted through the mission of making engineering education accessible to a wider audience. The speaker emphasizes the need to share knowledge beyond traditional academic settings, aiming to engage underrepresented groups such as girls, Black, and Hispanic children. This initiative began during the pandemic, leading to the creation of content on social media platforms like TikTok to reach young people. By doing so, the goal is to spark enthusiasm for STEM subjects and create a more inclusive environment in engineering.
Balancing Consumption and Creation in Technology
A critical discussion on the balance between being consumers and creators of technology emerges, particularly concerning young people's engagement with video games versus STEM education. The speaker compares the investment in gaming systems to the affordability of 3D printers and STEM kits, arguing that parents should encourage creation alongside consumption. Activities like building in Minecraft or using makerspaces in public libraries are promoted as ways to nurture creativity in technology. This approach is aimed at fostering a generation that not only enjoys technology but also contributes to its development.
The Role of Art in Engineering
The conversation explores the integration of art into STEM education, asserting that creative disciplines should not be excluded from engineering. The speaker argues that understanding history, ethics, and aesthetics is crucial for engineers to design functional and appealing products. By breaking down stereotypes about what an engineer looks like, the goal is to encourage a broader interpretation of creativity in engineering. This inclusive perspective can engage more students, especially young women who may feel disconnected from traditional engineering narratives.
Building Problem-Solving Skills and Resilience
The focus on developing critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in engineering students is emphasized, particularly in the context of overcoming technical challenges. Students are encouraged to embrace errors and learn from debugging processes, as this resilience is essential for their growth. Techniques such as troubleshooting and analyzing failures are presented as fundamental skills for future engineers. The ability to reflect on mistakes and understand the systemic nature of problem-solving is an invaluable takeaway for students entering the engineering field.