Analyzing Impact of 50-min In-Class Hands-On Activities on K-12 Interest in the Transportation Field

Abstract: This study focuses on enhancing transportation education within the K-12 public school system, a topic often underrepresented in traditional curricula. Developed by the Fresno State Transportation Institute, a series of engaging, 50-minute lesson plans has been crafted for students in upper elementary, middle, and high school. These lessons are designed to actively engage students in understanding the importance and impact of transportation in their daily lives and communities, with the broader goal of fostering long-term interest in the field. A structured assessment process was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of these lessons. Students’ knowledge and interest in transportation topics were measured pre and post each lesson on a five-point scale, with scores ranging from 1 (indicating no knowledge or interest) to 5 (indicating substantial knowledge or interest). This approach allowed us to capture both initial awareness and any growth in enthusiasm and understanding as a result of the lessons. Results of conducting these activities at many schools across diverse K-12 schools demonstrate positive results. Over 80% of students expressed a continued interest in transportation topics by the end of each lesson, with schools frequently requesting follow-up sessions to sustain this engagement. Additionally, the change in the students' responses to all questions of the pre- and post- activity assessments was consistently and highly positive on all questions. These findings suggest that short, interactive lessons can significantly help introduce and nurture interest in transportation among younger students. This approach highlights the potential for transportation education to positively shape students’ perceptions and encourage their involvement in the field from an early age.