Transportation Engineer
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Engineering, Career Skills
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Provided by Sustainability Ambassadors
What it is
- This four-page article describes the job of a transportation engineer and showcases an individual working in this field in Seattle.
- Students read about the tasks, working environment, required education and skills, the personal experience of someone in the field, the pros and cons of the job, and what the future looks like for this career path.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The personal perspective of Tinotenda Jonga, who grew up in South Africa before immigrating to the United States, is an engaging account that will inspire students.
- The resource highlights the real-world importance of problem-solving and systems-thinking skills.
Additional Prerequisites
- There are some acronyms used that students will likely be unfamiliar with, such as CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).
- Students should know the difference between soft skills and technical skills.
- It may help students to know some background about South Africa.
Differentiation
- To get an idea of what this work might be like, students can identify a transportation issue in their community, research possible solutions, and draft a proposal to solve this issue.
- English language arts classes can use this resource to practice reading informational text and analyzing the author's rhetoric, purpose, and point of view.
- Engineering classes can use this resource to learn about career paths in this field and the real-world applications for engineering skills.
- Students can discuss the link between transportation and climate change and brainstorm ways a transportation engineer may implement mitigation and adaptation strategies.
From the scientist review
This green career resource describes the importance of transportation engineers and encourages young people to pursue this field of work. Additionally, it offers lessons gained and anecdotes to encourage students to succeed in this career route.
How we review resourcesReady to use it?
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