Early and Continuous Exposure to Engineering as a Profession: Career Imprinting in Grades PK-12

In recent years, there has been much discussion about declining interest in engineering programs throughout U.S. colleges and universities.Several possible causes for the decline have been identified and are fodder for debate: (1) PK-12 educational systems are not adequately preparing students to comprehend the connections among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and future career opportunities and (2) College engineering curricula need to be more aligned with the real world needs of business and industry.Several programs such as STEM summer programs and internships have been developed to address these issues, but to a large extent, such programs are short-term based.Additionally, they mostly target high school students; are only applicable in one grade level; or are one time project-based events.What would be the impact of systematically exposing PK through high school students to engineering concepts, applications, and career opportunities on a long-term, continuous basis at each grade level?If students are constantly reminded that engineering is part of their daily lives, this could generate a lifetime interest in the engineering profession and engage them in benefiting humanity.The authors are proposing "career imprinting," similar to that espoused by Harvard Professor Monica C. Higgins in the field of business, as a possible strategy to increasing students' awareness of and appreciation for careers in engineering.The objective would be to not only assist students in cultivating and acquiring grade level appropriate, as well as discipline-specific basic skills needed by engineers, but also to help them develop the personal characteristics that are essential to be successful in the engineering profession.By connecting "engineering as a profession" to the development of these skills and characteristics, students may be sparked to have an interest in engineering and can become "imprinted" to consider careers in the field.