Thinking Like an Engineer

It's hard to believe this is our last review with the Homeschool Review Crew for 2017! We've received some amazing products this year, but what better way is there to end than with one my son's favorites?

As soon as I watched the introduction video of Thinking Like an Engineer, I knew my oldest son would love it. He wasn't quite as enthusiastic as I was . . . until he started the course. Then he was hooked! I can't even tell you how many times now he's thanked me for signing him up for Innovators Tribe. 

Innovators Tribe was created to help revive innovation, creativity, and discovery. STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math) is being recognized more and more for its importance. Wayne Kroeplin (Mr. K) created the Innovators Tribe's courses--Engineer, Architect, Carpenter (coming soon)--to direct students to become problem-solvers and innovators who are driven by their natural abilities. The self-paced, interactive lessons take the work away from the parents and give them the resources and confidence they need to support their students. These online courses are ideal for 6th-12th graders who love technology and hands-on activities.

Thinking Like an Engineer covers the following the topics:

• Introduction to Enginnering
• Introduction to 3D Design (tools of modern design)
• Engineering Rollercoasters
• Engineering Bridges
• Nano Engineering (Discovery of a New World)
• Thinking Like an Engineer - Course Conclusion

 

The lessons are a combination of videos, slides, pictures, and text. Mr K teaches in a way that makes the information easy to understand. His passion and enthusiasm for the subject spills over into his teaching which causes the viewer to catch some of that excitement, too.

One of the best ways to learn something is to do it. That's why there are many engaging challenges to reinforce the lessons. Students will build a tall paper tower, find the best way to craft paper to hold up pounds of books, build a filter to purify water, learn how to 3D design, build a working mechanism completely out of paper, design and create a rollercoaster, construct a suspension bridge, and more.

 
When I said that my son loved the program, I wasn't exaggerating. The course requires approximately 30 hours to complete, including projects. We've had access to Innovators Tribe for just over a month, and he's gone through all the lessons. All the lessons. On his own. I'd get up in the mornings to find him already working through the material. There are some challenges that he still needs to do, but he's waiting for help from my husband. He just couldn't wait to move on though and would watch the next portions before completing certain projects.

My husband was interested in engineering and architecture when he was a teenager. He had planned to make it his career before God called him to Bible college. Now, it's amazing to see how often he gets to use his talents at his demolition job. He's often solving problems and creating new tools to meet their needs. His inventions amaze me. Our oldest son is just like him. It's been fun watching the two of them talk about this engineering course and working together.

One thing that drew my boy to the program is the inclusion of 3D CAD software. He loves designing (which is why you can find him building with LEGO at any given moment) and technology. He is fascinated watching my husband design and create things on his 3D printer. So when he had access to his own lessons to teach him the ins and outs of the software, he was ecstatic. He completed the challenges in that version and then moved on to the advanced lesson using the software that my husband uses. He has learned so much in such a short amount of time and has far surpassed what is included in the course. The things he has designed on his own are so impressive and contain much detail.

     

I cannot say enough about this program. It is challenging to get my son motivated to do schoolwork, so saying that he completed this course much sooner than required and then spent numerous hours delving into deeper study is astonishing. It's not just because of the topic either, because we've used other engineering type of programs that just couldn't motivate his inner engineer. Innovators Tribe truly is remarkable.

Once he and my husband finish all the projects, I would like to have him work through Thinking Like an Architect and the newest course, Thinking Like a Carpenter. We hope to be part of the Tribe for a long time.

You can see some of the fun and engaging activities that are included in Thinking Like an Engineer in the video below. What you can't hear in this is when he was lifting the books and said, "Whoa! These are heavy. This paper is stronger than me!" Come watch how he made 1 piece of paper and a little tape hold up dozens of pounds of books.

Thank you, Innovators Tribe for sparking this passion in my son and encouraging him to apply himself and his engineering mind. Here's to the next generation of innovators. 


You can read more reviews of this program and also of the architecture version on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.