Custom K-12 Engineering by Dr. Ann P. McMahon

Why Do I Serve K-12 Students Through Their Teachers?

I am passionate about these things:

science and engineering,

social and emotional learning, and

K-12 education.

I believe that

our natural and human-made world provides endless opportunities for discovery, invention, and innovation,

people's behaviors have meanings that can be understood through past and present relationships, and

K-12 engineering provides opportunities for students to invent and innovate with concepts they have learned, while simultaneously honing their self-regulation and social skills.

If I Support Teachers with High-Quality Professional Development, then Teachers Can Better Serve Their Students

Many people credit their productive life choices to the influence of a teacher. I know I do. They say that a teacher noticed and encouraged their special interest or recognized and nurtured their particular skill. This kind of support benefits all students, but it is crucial for students who come from challenging circumstances. Research in neuroscience shows that positive relationships can rewire brain circuits shaped by adverse experiences. Research in resilience shows that even one positive relationship in an at-risk child's life can set that child on a positive life trajectory. While teachers maintain a positive relationship with each student, they can also facilitate positive peer relationships among students. Engineering is a perfect context for students to practice positive relationships because engineering is social learning. Students benefit when teachers understand how children develop emotionally and how to use the process of engineering for cognitive learning and social and emotional practice. Classroom climate improves, and disrespectful behaviors - including bullying - decline. Engineering provides an unprecedented way for students to wire their brains for collaborative problem solving and increase resilience in all areas of life.