Teachers: Connect your students with engineers

I’m an Engineer is a student-led, online enrichment activity connecting students with people working in a diverse range of roles in STEM.

Thanks to our funders, taking part is free for state-maintained schools. It’s a moderated, flexible activity, that is safe, secure and easy to use. It’s suitable for ages from 10 to 18.

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1. Give context to your teaching

The I’m an Engineer activity shows students real-life applications of their classroom studies.

“I would like to do this year-round, in all science lessons, across the school“

– Laurette, Teacher

2. Give all students an equal voice

The text-based platform supports all students in having a voice, and asking the questions that interest them.

“… scientists in the classroom is good but you don’t have 100% engagement. I’m a Scientist takes that away: everybody’s got questions“

– Amanda, Teacher

3. Bring careers into the curriculum

Students get personalised careers advice from professionals in different workplaces with different career paths.

I’m a Scientist meets 6 of the Gatsby Good Guidance Benchmarks.

4. Support students’ science capital

The activity introduces students to STEM professionals with whom they share personal interests and opinions.

Students make connections between STEM and their own lives, helping them see that STEM, and by extension, a STEM-related career, could be for ‘someone like me’.

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The I’m an Engineer activity

Your students take part in a themed activity of your choosing. These are matched closely to your curriculum, more general or to celebrate a special event (e.g. Engineering Week)

During the activity, students:

Learn about up to 30 relevant engineers through their profiles, including their CVs

Connect with a diverse range of engineers in 30-minute, text-based, online Chats

Deepen their understanding and continue engaging with the engineers by sending follow-up questions

Decide which engineer deserves the £500 winner’s prize

Review their learning through a facilitated discussion

We have designed to support your teaching, including lesson plans, prompt sheets, transcripts and learning outcomes.

“Today’s chat was fantastic. The class were so enthusiastic and full of excitement after the chat finished. I’ve had one child decide that he wants to be a physiologist and another who has decided that a career is science is their way forward.”

Teacher, 2021

"Students were enthused in different ways. We have a little book area in the corner of the room and it largely goes unnoticed. A student popped by during her free to look through a child psychology book on the shelves. This has definitely had the type of impact I was hoping for."

Teacher, 2021

"When you bring scientists into the classroom, it’s good but you don’t have 100% engagement. [I'm a Scientist] takes that away: everybody’s got questions to ask.”

Teacher, 2021

“When students are engaged and start to see the real life impact of a subject, they’re more enthusiastic about it – I noticed an increased motivation to learn following I’m a Scientist.”

Emily Tulloch, Science teacher

"The pupils loved it, have asked to do it again as well. What fascinated them the most was that the scientists were not necessarily the most academic at school but yet still became a scientist and so opens it up to anyone who is invested."

Rachel Causey, Caroline Chisholm School, 2022

"Conversation ranged from professional to simple questions , they were answered with sensitivity and engaged pupils as they were able to converse on their level."

Teacher, 2021

"This is a brilliant opportunity to ask a range of scientists about their careers as well as developing their knowledge of science! ”

Teacher, 2021

"The students felt part of the wider community by being able to converse with people who do not know about their disabilities and therefore are not pre judged. All of them want to say how much they really enjoyed being able to engage at their level."

Teacher, 2021

“I was able to ask questions that are important to me and my interests.”

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More information

Teacher Guidance

Safeguarding and privacy

Questions? Email us at support@imanengineer.org.uk

1. Give context to your teaching

2. Give all students an equal voice

3. Bring careers into the curriculum

4. Support students’ science capital

The I’m an Engineer activity

During the activity, students:

“Today’s chat was fantastic. The class were so enthusiastic and full of excitement after the chat finished. I’ve had one child decide that he wants to be a physiologist and another who has decided that a career is science is their way forward.”

"Students were enthused in different ways. We have a little book area in the corner of the room and it largely goes unnoticed. A student popped by during her free to look through a child psychology book on the shelves. This has definitely had the type of impact I was hoping for."

"When you bring scientists into the classroom, it’s good but you don’t have 100% engagement. [I'm a Scientist] takes that away: everybody’s got questions to ask.”

“When students are engaged and start to see the real life impact of a subject, they’re more enthusiastic about it – I noticed an increased motivation to learn following I’m a Scientist.”

"The pupils loved it, have asked to do it again as well. What fascinated them the most was that the scientists were not necessarily the most academic at school but yet still became a scientist and so opens it up to anyone who is invested."

"Conversation ranged from professional to simple questions , they were answered with sensitivity and engaged pupils as they were able to converse on their level."

"This is a brilliant opportunity to ask a range of scientists about their careers as well as developing their knowledge of science! ”

"The students felt part of the wider community by being able to converse with people who do not know about their disabilities and therefore are not pre judged. All of them want to say how much they really enjoyed being able to engage at their level."

More information

**The I’m an Engineer activity**