SECME Summer
Institute and Mini-Expo: Robotics and Nanotechnology
SECME is a strategic
alliance to renew and strengthen the professional capacity
of K-12 educators, motivate and mentor students, and empower
parents so that all students can learn and achieve at higher
levels. Its mission is to increase the pool of historically
under-represented, under-served and differently-abled
students who will be prepared to enter and complete
post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering,
and technology. The central vision of this program is to be
a beacon and benchmark for excellence and equity in
pre-college education. The school-university partnership was
the defining element in the original SECME “framework.” That
model is, very intentionally, teacher-centered. By impacting
teachers, all students benefit.
It is imperative that those teachers be provided the
opportunity to enhance their content knowledge as well as
other related professional development needs in order to
enrich the learning opportunities for K-12. The SECME Summer
Institute is designed to provide an opportunity for K-16
educators, and students, especially underrepresented and
groups, to receive innovative STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics) professional development.
The SECME Summer
Institute and mini expo event was hosted by the USF College
of Engineering, Tampa from July 7th-16th
, 2006 catering to the needs of Tampa Bay school students
and teachers. Special mentoring sessions for high schools
students and hands-on workshop for teachers were conducted
by our group. The robotics camp instructors and coordinators
(PhD students from our group) lead by Praveen Sekhar were
also part of the annual summer institute imparting hands-on
training workshop and Mini Expo. The workshop comprised
stimulating discussions and presentations, a two-hour
training session for K-12 educators and high school minority
students. Our central theme was innovative learning through
robotics and dissemination of nanotechnology with its
societal impact. The results of research projects were
presented in a concise manner. Novel teaching methods and
modules in Biosensors, Material Science/ Engineering and
Nanotechnology, Robotics and Simulation based on the
research projects were presented to educators for use in
their classrooms. |
MEMS and
Nanotechnology Education Outreach Enterprise
Many reports herald
revolutions in diverse areas based on advances in MEMS and
Nanotechnology, and scientists have devoted a great deal of
time and effort in developing and making advances in these
cutting edge technologies. PI’s interaction with the Tampa
Bay area schools suggested that high-school students are
“curious” about these emerging technologies but a clear idea
of this rapidly growing field remains elusive among them. To
address this issue, PI has been engaged in developing early
awareness outreach programs over the past year to stimulate
interest in science and Engineering, and ultimately infusing
principles in such cutting edge areas as nanotechnology, and
advanced manufacturing.
Robotics and Technology Summer Camp: Innovative Micro and
Nanotechnology Summer sessions for K-12 education -
K-12 education is vital to the future of nanoscale science
and technology in at least two distinct, yet interconnected
areas (1) Interdisciplinary & Cross Disciplinary Learning
and (2) Development of a highly trained technology
workforce. The advances of nanoscale science and technology
are illustrating that the frontiers of our knowledge often
lie at the intersections of the traditional fields of
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and require knowledge,
perspective, and methodologies from several of these
simultaneously. Secondly, the vital nature of education's
role in nanotechnology is highlighted by need for a highly
trained workforce, and the educational opportunities we
provide must emphasize not only the multidisciplinary
problem-solving strengths, but also higher order thinking
skills.
In an environment
called K-PhD, 15 undergraduate and graduate students in PI’s
research group mentor K-12 students during the Summer Camp
by providing a series of hands-on activities in Science,
Technology and Engineering with a primary focus on Micro and
nano technologies. The program demonstrates a wide variety
of tools/ systems commonly used by Nano-technology
researchers. Graduate and post-doctoral researchers
carefully devise the age-appropriate “hands-on” lessons in
line with the framework of Sunshine State Education
standards. A number of LEGO based modules, mimicking atomic
structures, nanostructures, CMOS device deposition and
Lithographic techniques have been developed already using
color-coded LEGO bricks, for levels 6-12. Tools for probing
these structures are being developed by undergraduate
students with the involvement of high school students. LEGO
based macro-scale models are an ideal choice to study
structures at the nanoscale, tools used for probing these
structures, and relationships between structures and their
properties. Building or disassembling a tool built from a
familiar material such as LEGO bricks provides a revealing
view of the tool and the principles behind it.
Last year, over 300 expressions of interest were received
and 90 students were invited to attend. We will maintain the
current success of the camp, sustain the current attendance
rates and reach out to larger number of students, in Tampa
Bay area schools. Establishment of partnerships with the
participating Tampa Bay area schools is underway to address
diversity of student participation. Regular meetings will be
held to bring about the thought process needed to appreciate
the true impact of the camp. The summer session
recorded 600 middle and high school students, parents,
teachers, counselors, and administrators. Summarizing the
events, students were encouraged to study engineering by
being exposed to current research applications and
technology in several fields. |
