History and Evolution of Engineering Activity
To understand why things are the way they are, it is often helpful to study how they came to be
over time. In short, history is a powerful tool for understanding things and engineering is no
exception. The nature of engineering evolved over time. Its composition, conventions, and
culture were shaped by people, events, discoveries, conflicts, and accomplishments over
hundreds of years. The purpose this lesson is to develop insights into the nature of engineering
as a significant human endeavor by contemplating its history and evolution.
Objective
Upon completion of a time line, students will be able to present at least 1 summative conclusion
regarding the history and evolution of engineering that are appropriate for all secondary
students to understand as an integral part of becoming technologically literate.
Assignment
Develop a time line outlining the people, accomplishment, milestones, and impacts associated
with the history of engineering as a human endeavor.
Practical Application
The final product will be a piece of work that can be proudly displayed in a classroom or
laboratory. It can serve as a powerful piece of media for informal education. Very simply,
informal education includes the things teachers do to help people learn without making it a
prescribed piece of curriculum and instruction. In this case, the time line can be used to enrich
the learning environment to support and encourage self-directed learning beyond the boundaries
of formal instruction (e.g., reading a poster on the wall, studying a time line on display).
Directions
1. Search “history of engineering” on your favorite search website. Note the key milestones in
the history and evolution of engineering as a human endeavor.
2. Themes: Develop a series of 6 or more PowerPoint slides that can be displayed in a linear
fashion a long a wall to form a historical timeline for 1 discrete branch of engineering. The
collection needs to include separate slides for the following themes.
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People that helped shape engineering over time
Major accomplishments in engineering (e.g., projects, inventions, discoveries)
Milestones in the development of engineering as a profession and field of study
Impacts of engineering on the development of technology and society
The following list presents some of the potential branch that could run the length of yo ur
timeline. Simply select one that you find especially interesting or thought provoking. One should
also consider the availability of resources when selecting the topic for your timeline.
Branches of engineering that can serve as topics
Acoustical
Electrical
Aerospace
Mechanical
Mineral & Mining
Agricultural
Genetic
Nuclear
Automation
Geological
Petroleum
Automotive
Industrial
Software
Chemical
Manufacturing
Structural
Civil
Marine
Systems
Computer
Material Science
3. Design: Each slide should declare a theme in the title box followed by the subject of the slide
(e.g., People: Hammurabi). The title box should also include the date of the topic in question
(e.g., 1850 to 1750 B.C.). The textbox should provide a brief narrative that presents the
important facts associated with the subject at hand (Hammurabi was one of the first advocates
for quality control…). Where possible, a photograph or piece of clip art should be included to
complement the narrative.
4. Example: The following example is from a strand on acoustical engineering that features an
accomplishment from the 1800’s. Please note the basic elements, the simple format, the
informal balance in the graphic design, and the level of detail in the narrative.