Pre-college engineering education has been a recent goal of educational systems, aiming to promote the skills and knowledge for thriving in a technology-driven world. A rapidly changing world brings complex challenges; therefore, pre-service teachers are the future change agents, who will shape the next generation’s understanding of it. The goal of this study is to examine how pre-service science teachers depict and develop their awareness of the ‘nature of engineering’ (NOE). The study utilizes the Family Resemblance Approach (FRA) as a theoretical and pedagogical framework, focusing on pre-service teachers from science and engineering backgrounds. Drawings and written explanations are analyzed to examine the development of NOE understanding before and after professional development.

The study will provide insights into how to develop a more holistic and unified understanding of NOE by exposing pre-service teachers to FRA-related engineering concepts.