A tremendous amount of research went into the creation of the Engineering is Elementary curriculum. Then, more research at pilot implementation sites informed an extensive refining process. We think all this research has led to the strongest engineering curriculum available for K-12.
Our research hasn't ended just because the curriculum development process is finished. On the contrary, we are now conducting research to measure EiE's efficacy.
The National Science Foundation recently awarded a significant grant to EiE for the Exploring the Efficacy of Engineering is Elementary (E4) project. E4 will investigate whether and how the EiE curriculum affects teachers’ teaching of engineering and science, students’ learning, and their interest in STEM fields.
Over four years, the E4 project will study the impact of four different EiE units, as compared to a control curriculum, on 300 grades 3-5 classrooms in three states. Of special interest in the study is the impact of EiE on underperforming or underrepresented children.