2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Early outdoor experiences play a significant role in shaping students’ interest in engineering. This project explores how formative childhood interactions with nature such as building, observing, and exploring contribute to the development of an engineering identity. A survey of over 150 students revealed that hands-on outdoor activities helped many connect engineering principles to the environment, with at least 45% stating that these experiences influenced their decision to pursue engineering. The survey gathered both quantitative and qualitative data on students’ outdoor activities, perceptions of nature’s influence on engineering, career motivations, and external influences such as family, education, and extracurricular involvement. The findings highlight building (33.3%), observing (23.8%), and repairing (9.5%) as the most common activities that fostered connections between engineering and environmental systems.
To bring these insights to life, we developed an Augmented Reality module that recreates students’ memorable outdoor experiences tied to engineering curiosity. The web-based module allows users to explore virtual locations based on their experiences, engage with interactive elements representing activities such as constructing, repairing, and playing, and reflect on their own experiences. Anyone with internet access can use the module by scanning a QR code. At the MakeIt! session, attendees will experience the Augmented Reality module firsthand through a live demonstration. Participants will explore how environmental experiences connect to engineering concepts and learn how this tool can be integrated into STEM education. This session provides an opportunity for educators, students, and researchers to interact with the module, share their own experiences, and discuss how immersive technologies can enhance student engagement and learning.