Susan Donohue
Papers
2
Total Citations
9
H-Index
2
About
Susan Donohue is a dedicated advocate for broadening engineering education at the elementary level, a critical but often overlooked stage in the K-12 pipeline. Her primary research focuses on developing and implementing hands-on, age-appropriate engineering curricula for young learners. Donohue’s major contribution is the creation of **Engineering Teaching Kits (ETKs)** , innovative, standards-aligned design challenges that introduce fundamental engineering concepts without relying on expensive robotics or computers. Her most cited work, a 2008 workshop paper (5 citations), outlines the rationale for ETKs, arguing that while interventions are common in middle and high school, structured engineering experiences for K-5 students remain rare. A follow-up workshop paper (4 citations) details how these kits can be adapted for a wider pre-college audience. Though her citation counts reflect the niche, practitioner-focused nature of her work, Donohue’s impact is profound in educational practice. By providing accessible, scalable tools for teachers, she has helped lay the groundwork for integrating engineering thinking into early childhood education, inspiring a generation of students to see themselves as future problem-solvers.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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