DTEACh Teacher Training
The DTEACh Summer Institutes introduce K-12 educators to engineering design and how it may be used to effectively integrate math and science in the classroom. From 1992 to 2009, these sessions taught educators about topics in engineering fundamentals. Since 2000, the Institutes have have focused on Robotics and Automation using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology.
Robotics Institutes
The DTEACh Robotics Summer Institute is a cutting-edge training program that teaches engineering design using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology. Over the past nine years more than 400 Central Texas educators have completed the Robotics and Automation Summer Institute and gone on to integrate engineering design principles into lessons ranging from science and math to literature.
- NXT Teacher Training Materials: View and download the 2009 training materials, including NXT building and programming instructions.
- RCX Teacher Training Materials: View and download the 2006 (RCX) DTEACh training binder, with RCX building and programming instructions.
- TSTEM Teacher Training Materials: View and download the 2009 training materials, including the NXT building and programming instructions.
Engineering Fundamentals Institutes
Prior to 2000, DTEACh focused on engineering fundamentals. During the academic year, teachers attended eight Saturday sessions to learn about a range of engineering fundamentals, including engineering design methodology, mathematics (e.g., algebra, geometry, vectors, introductory trigonometry), materials science (e.g., types of materials, properties of materials, material selection), statics (e.g., free-body diagrams, forces and moments, equilibrium), solid mechanics (e.g., elasticity, tension, compression), and mechanisms and machine components (e.g., linkages, cams, gears). During the following summer, participants then attended nine sessions over three weeks to learn about work and energy (e.g., elastic potential energy, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, friction), fluid mechanics (e.g., properties of fluids, hydrostatics, buoyancy, pumps and valves, Bernoulli's equation), and electricity (e.g., resistive circuits, Ohm's law, switches and relays).
