Pre-College Engineering Education
Our Goal:
The mission of the Integrated Teaching and Learning (ITL) Pre-College Engineering Education Program is to broaden participation and build career pathways in engineering for K-12 learners, especially underrepresented youth. In partnership with schools, community organizations and CU Boulder programs, we provide authentic STEM-based, interactive engineering opportunities that develop skills and spark excitement for the next generation of engineers.
The ITL Pre-College Program promotes K-12 engineering education by:
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Engaging students in the engineering design process while deepening their understanding of fundamental STEM concepts and interrelationships;
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Improving student learning through hands-on and project-based engineering activities that are connected to everyday STEM applications;
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Raising the level of technological literacy of students through building their engineering skills and comprehension of our dynamic modern world;
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Introducing exciting career paths in engineering and opening students’ eyes to how our lives are enriched by the valuable work of engineers.
What we offer:
Engineering Education Programs
Our Pre-College Engineering Team provides dynamic in-school and after-school programming that highlights the engineering design process and design thinking skills through interactive, project-based activities. We serve local elementary and secondary students who are mentored by teams of CU Boulder engineering students. In addition, the ITL Pre-College Program hosts campus visits for area high schools, offers engineering design summer camps, and supports teacher professional development in engineering.
The ASPIRE ERC is an innovative NSF-funded engineering research center dedicated to advancing sustainable, equitable electrified transportation to improve health and quality of life through the development of new shared infrastructure for seamless charging. CU Boulder is a key university partner in the ASPIRE ERC, and the ITL Pre-College Program is collaborating on developing ASPIRE-themed K-12 curricula, teacher workshops, summer engineering design camps, and many more exciting initiatives.
The ITL Pre-College Program is an Engineering For Us All (E4USA) pilot university partner in collaboration with DSST Public Schools. E4USA empowers, engages and excites students by raising awareness of engineering in everyday life, exploring the diversity of engineers, and emphasizing how engineering is embedded in society. Student teams practice engineering design, considering local and global challenges, and are provided opportunities to design and create solutions in authentic, student-centered product development challenges.
The Teach Engineering Digital Library (TE) is a searchable collection of standards-based engineering curricula for use by K-12 educators that is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation. TE is a collaboration among faculty and teachers from around the country who are passionate about K-12 engineering education. The online TE digital collection provides over 1,700 free STEM engineering-focused lesson plans, hands-on activities, and maker challenges, as well as more than 250 engineering activity videos.
Partner Programs
DSST Public Schools are one of the nation’s top STEM-focused choice schools, and the highest performing and highest growth secondary schools in Denver Public Schools. DSST’s mission is to transform urban public education by eliminating educational inequity and preparing all students for success in college and the 21st century. Our Pre-College Engineering Team supports teachers and students at DSST College View, Conservatory Green, and Green Valley Ranch high schools in implementing the E4USA engineering curriculum.
The ITL Pre-College Program partners with the Boulder County chapter of the "I Have A Dream" Foundation (IHDF) and several of their Dreamer Scholar cohorts through our after-school engineering education program. IHDF provides individualized social, emotional, and academic support to young people from low-income communities from 1st grade all the way through college, along with guaranteed tuition support. IHDF believes in the power of equal access to resources that students need to succeed, and that all children can ignite their innate potential and achieve their dreams.
CU Teach is a nationally renowned secondary math and science teacher education program that is a collaborative effort between the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. In partnership with CU Teach Engineering, the ITL Program and the Engineering Plus program co-host professional development workshops for K-12 teachers focused on teaching engineering design and building technical skills.
The ITL Program partners with The BOLD Center at CU Boulder to engage underrepresented pre-college students from surrounding communities who are interested in attending the College of Engineering and Applied Science. We encourage the BOLD Center’s Engineering GoldShirt students to apply for a position on our Pre-College Engineering Team that works with K-12 students on in-school and after-school engineering programs.
