Alice Squires, Director, SSE Online Programs, provided a K-12 workshop to middle school teachers at the 2007 American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Workshop on K-12 Engineering Education, held at the University of Hawaii in Manoa, on the island of Oahu. 

The K-12 workshop utilized the design of a marine aquarium as an example for middle school teachers to teach systems engineering concepts to their students. 

The lesson plan specifically addresses the needs of the aquarium stakeholders – those who have an investment in the success of the aquarium – and focuses on exploring various system concepts for the aquarium.   The workshop included activities that could be completed in groups in the classroom or at home.  The lesson plan was designed to be of interest to both boys and girls and emphasizes the importance of a systems thinking approach when designing a system.