Current and Future Trends and Issues Facing Technology and Engineering Education in the United States

Abstract

Determining trends and issues is important for the health of any profession. The purpose of this research was to determine the current and future trends and issues facing technology and engineering education (TEE) in the United States (U.S.). The researchers used a three-round Modified-Delphi method to solicit information from technology and engineering education stakeholders across the U.S. In the first round, participants listed what they felt were current trends, future trends, current issues, and future issues facing TEE. The second round was designed to prioritize trends and issues. In the third round, participants were presented with one table for each current and future trend and issue and asked to identify if they felt each was essential or non-essential for technology and engineering leaders to address. Two hundred sixty-eight participants responded in the third round, and the resulting trends and issues were categorized into eight themes: 1) teacher shortage; 2) secondary and university TEE programs; 3) funding programs and teachers; 4) curriculum; 5) technology and engineering education identity and relevance; 6) collaborative efforts; 7) teacher certification and development; and 8) student-centered foci.