WebDropin #4 - “I Want to be a Structural Engineer”

Structures are very unique and take on many types. There are lots of people involved in the designing, planning, and building of a structure. You could be one of those people some day. One such person is called a structural engineer.

Have you ever wanted to find out why the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted? Well, structural engineers figure these problems out before any building begins. What do structural engineers do?

You will use an Engineering Webography to investigate the career of a structural engineer. As you learn about the career you will read to be informed about the jobs of two structural engineers. Your task is to find out what schooling do you have to complete in order to become a structural engineer? What does a structural engineer do everyday?

Activity

Directions

Open this link to find the engineering webography on the building big website.

Read the section Career Info

Click on meet a structural engineer

Read the interview conducted with each structural engineer.

Read the sections titled:

What do you do as a structural engineer?

What is a typical day like?

What advice do you have for kids that might be interested in this field?

Briefly summarize the main points stated by each engineer in your science journal.

Assessment:

A student is entering College in the fall. Their hobbies include building things and drawing. You will write a letter to this student explaining the school requirements and job tasks of a structural engineer. Be sure to include the points of view from the two structural engineers you investigated.