Q. Does the program purchase price include everything I need to run this program?
A. Yes, but if you wish to take advantage of the software and web based services, you will need computers and access to the Internet.
Q. Do I have to have Internet access to use this program?
A. No, there is a written equivalent for the assessment and portfolio building, but there is tremendous added value if you can gain access to the Internet based services and extensions.
Q. What ages does this program work best with?
A. This program is currently being used as a resource center for students ranging from 5 years old to 18 years old. It is an incredibly versatile resource and can be applied in gifted and talented programs, after school programs, integrated within the classroom, and much more. The main AOE, Jr. curriculum series is most appropriate for students fourth grade or higher, but the additional extensions and resources provided make it very flexible. Current programs are also using it as the foundation for vocational technical education at the 9th grade level and as a middle school technology elective class.
Q. Is it possible to have pupils of different ages using the program at the same time?
A. Absolutely. Depending on the format of the program, for example after school, in-classroom, etc. we encourage the use of a multi-age format. As the program was implemented in our private learning centers in the Northwest U.S., we almost always had varied age groups working together. You would often see older students motivating younger students by demonstrating more advanced projects and applications. Also, the social aspect of working together and learning how to cooperate and solve problems together is very important.
Q. Is the class self-teaching? Does the teacher present the contents for everybody like a normal class?
A. Again, this depends on the nature of the program. If the program is being used in an afterschool format where students will be coming and working at their own pace, they may very well become quite autonomous and independent in going through the projects. Normally, and what we recommend, is that the teacher or facilitator should give some sort of introduction to an organized activities ( the "WOW" exercises for example) and maybe some background information. This way, the students have some information before they tackle the activities. It may be desirable to have a class format in which the initial time in class period is spent introducing a new concept and activity, and the remainder of the time is spent with students pursuing activities at their own pace.
Q. I don't have access to the Internet yet, do I still have to pay for the annual license?
A. Yes, the base license is still required and provides your site with continued rights to use the curriculum and display the AOE, Jr. name, as well as receive the regular curriculum upgrades we continue to develop.
Q. If I decide to drop my license the following year, what do I get to keep?
A. All of the deliverables are yours to keep with the exception of the AOE, Jr.'s site license materials bearing the AOE, Jr. brand name. This includes the AOE, Jr. curriculum books. We do this to protect our brand name and to ensure that all AOE, Jr. materials are kept current.
Q. Do you provide day to day instructions on how to execute the program?
A. Yes, during the training and within the operations manual we will show you how to execute the program on a day to day basis and provide you with suggested schedules and activities. We do not, however, script every action and moment of the student experience as some systems do. The nature of the Academy of Engineering program is to promote creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking and much of this needs to be done in an atmosphere of open investigation. If a teacher elects to limit the open ended aspects of the program suggested in training, the results gained by students will be less than optimum.
Q. Do I have to be a math or computer wizard to execute this program?
A. No, we have many lay persons and volunteers operating the program in after school environments. The more technical areas, such as using the graphing calculator may be beyond your abilities, but there are many, many resources designed to promote investigation and technical literacy suitable even for the complete novice.
Q. How much physical space do I need to operate this program?
A. It will depend on the number of students you wish to work with at one time. It is currently being successfully executed for groups of ten students in an area that is only 12' X 15', which includes an 8' work table, the AOE, Jr., and four computers.
Q. I notice that the base LEGO® inventory is designed to support a class of 15 students. Can I run multiple classes of 15 students using this program.
A. The program as delivered will actually support much more than 15 students depending on how you apply it. However, in a classroom environment working towards advanced engineering applications, you should have one full AOE, Jr. unit (additional manipulative units are available) for each group of 15 students. This amount of inventory is necessary to allow students to build larger and more open-ended projects that may tie up a significant LEGO inventory over the course of several months. Depending on your class objectives, it is possible to limit the amount of open ended activities and keep your students focused on smaller, 45 minute activities also, but if you wish to offer advanced engineering classes, you will need sufficient inventory for more complex projects.
Q. Can I use this program with my kindergarten class?
A. As a resource center, the AOE, Jr. is a wonderful tool. We have several schools that use the LEGO® manipulatives with students of all ages. In smaller schools, it is not unusual for the program to wheel from classroom to classroom throughout the course of a school week, supporting advanced, intermediate, beginning, and even kindergarten students. It should be noted that the benefit of consistent exposure to this program over the course of several years is remarkable. By the time a student reaches fourth grade, if they have been using the AOE, Jr. even once a week in previous school years, they will have remarkable facility with the LEGO pieces, the organization system, and many basic engineering concepts.
Q. How long will my LEGO inventory last?
A. LEGO materials, though expensive to purchase initially, are remarkably durable. Our development lab in Boise is still using pieces that they have had for over 12 years. There are many cost/benefit analyses that you might consider when evaluating the purchase price of an Academy of Engineering program. For example, the cost of consumables in many hands-on engineering and structural programs are very expensive and need to be budgeted for each new semester. The AOE, Jr. has no consumables and the attrition rate for LEGO parts has been demonstrated to be nominal if you follow our guidelines for lab management.
Q. Do I need to worry about theft of parts?
A. Common sense would dictate that you will always need to be aware of potential loss due to theft. The classroom management techniques we have documented, as well as the ability to lock up the more expensive items in the AOE, Jr., should provide the level of security you need to minimize loss due to theft.
Q. I am looking at the thousands of pieces and parts and am afraid I am going to spend all of my time sorting and organizing. Is this program going to consume all my time?
A. We designed this program and the lab units based on over ten years of experience with students working in this environment. This experience has taught us many things, some very important ones being classroom management and inventory management. We teach you how to teach your students to be independent and autonomous when accessing and putting away parts. One of the biggest problems we have ever faced was keeping all of the little pieces organized into their little individual boxes. The lab "macro" management approach resolved nearly all of these challenges.
Q. Is there any research indicating this type of program is effective?
A. Absolutely. Please review the summary of the research available on our website or through our sales represenatives.
Q. What is included in the web services from the Academy of Engineering?
A. The online services provide the following:
A method of organizing classes and students into a digital database.
A method of documenting and building a portfolio of student accomplisments.
Online assessment and testing.
Online support, glossary of terms supporting projects, access to other AOE, Jr. sites for collaboration and communication, online tutorials of concepts, contests, special challenges, and access to special Weird Richard content.
Q. Can my students access the web services from home if they have Internet access?
A. Absolutely. Extending the learning experience beyond the walls of the classroom is one of the major goals of the web services. As long as you have a student's online accounts activated, they can access it from home and use the online support and tutorials, demonstrate their portfolio to their parents, or communicate with online AOE, Jr. staff or students.
Q. What kinds of grants are available for funding this program?
A. There are many community grants, technology grant programs, and community learning center grants available. Please visit our website for suggestions or ask your sales representative. We have assisted in the authoring of many successful grants and are happy to provide you with text, research, and facts to support your efforts.
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