Introducing middle school students to engineering principles using educational bridge design software

In an effort to motivate middle school students to consider future careers in engineering, an educational outreach program was developed and implemented during National Engineers Week. The outreach program concentrated on bridge engineering and was presented within one day to the entire eighth grade student population of the local public school system. The program began with a presentation on careers in engineering with a particular emphasis placed on bridge engineering. Fundamental engineering concepts used in bridge design were then explained. The students used these concepts to design a single-span truss bridge using an educational bridge design software program. Finally, abridge design competition was held in which the students attempted to optimize the design of their bridge.