2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

More Than Paper Cranes: A STEAM-Based Approach to Teaching the Engineering Design Process Through Origami (Work In Progress)

Early intervention programs are critical for introducing elementary school students to engineering concepts. To be effective, these programs need to employ engaging methods to attract students to the field and its core principles. This paper details an innovative, hands-on STEAM workshop for first to fifth-grade students that utilizes the art of origami to teach the engineering design process and problem-solving skills. By utilizing inexpensive and universally accessible materials, such as paper, this workshop offers an equitable framework for advancing K-5 engineering education, which can be implemented in any setting, regardless of budgetary constraints.
Participants were introduced to fundamental origami techniques, which inherently enhance skills such as spatial reasoning, attention to detail, patience, and perseverance. These enhanced skills serve as a scaffold for introducing students to the formal engineering design process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and Improve. Students apply this process to solve age-appropriate challenges using their innovative origami creations. The findings are based on qualitative classroom observation and students' stories about each design they create.
These initial findings suggest high student engagement and a strong understanding of iterative design, shown by their willingness to refine their folded structures. This study will outline the curriculum, discuss preliminary results, and present the program as an effective model for integrating art into engineering education, thereby contributing to a more creative generation of problem solvers.

Authors

Dr. Samieh Askarian Khanamani http://orcid.org/https://0000-0003-4245-760X University of Cincinnati [biography]

Dr. Samieh Askarian Khanamani holds a degree in Engineering Education from the University of Cincinnati with ten years of experience as a vice principal and STEM teacher in elementary schools. Designer and organizer of educational informal programs and workshops for children and parents that focus on engineering and hands-on STEAM activities. Researcher in improving creativity specifically divergent thinking among children by using innovative tools like origami. Having an engineering background from both master’s and undergraduate studies.
Dr. Whitney Gaskins University of Cincinnati [biography]

Dr. Gaskins is the Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement in the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science, the only African-American female currently teaching in the faculty of the College of Engineering
Dr. Jutshi Agarwal University at Buffalo, The State University of New York [biography]

Jutshi Agarwal serves as a Research Scientist at the Department of Engineering Education at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. She has a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from the University of Cincinnati with Master's and Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering. Her research is focused on the teaching preparation of graduate students as future engineering faculty, agency of students in open-ended problems, and the professional development of K-12 teachers for teaching engineering design. She strives to identify, adopt, or adapt knowledge from different discipline-based education research (DBER) literature to promote better preparedness and efficacy of educators in engineering at different levels.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

For those interested in:

Pre-College