I thought 4-H was just

about Cows and

Cooking?

4-H Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

International Society of Technology in EducationAnnual Conference, June 27-30 Denver, Colorado

Richard Mahacek4-H Youth Development Advisor

University of California, Cooperative Extension

June 28, 2010

What is 4-H?• Out-of-School programs for youth K-12

• Clubs in communities• Camps• School Enrichment• After-School and Special Interest

Activities

Who is 4-H?• A partnership of local state and national

levels• Linked to USDA• The Land Grant Universities• In almost every County in the nation• Public and private support of staff,

volunteers, and youth

Why are we here?• National 4-H Initiative on Science

We are here because…• National 4-H Initiative on Science

• highlighting existing science content

• developing new curriculum content• creating additional partnerships• specific 4-H Robotics project

Sea-Tech 4-H ClubSeattle, Washington

Marine science and robotics club createsunderwater robots & ROVs

4-H Aerospace CampColumbia, Missouri

Astronomy and space exploration through simulators, rocket construction and GPS

4-H Tech WizardsPortland, Oregon

Targets low-income Latino youth

High-Quality, Local Programs

Expertise and Infrastructure• Innovative Curriculum

• State 4-H SET Plans

• Research and Evaluation

• National Youth Science Day

• Professional & Volunteer Development

Leveraging Partners

4-H & Associations and Groups

• Curriculum development

• Training for 4-H staff, volunteers and youth leaders

• Engagement of partner members

• Community related activities

4-H Robotics: Engineering for Today and Tomorrow

A holistic approach of a variety of STEMexperiences for youth in a 4-H setting.

4-H Robotics: Engineering for Today and Tomorrow

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Curriculum Overview

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Developed through a rigorous and challenging process that includes:• formative evaluation, • student and leader feedback,• impact assessments.

It is comprised of three separate tracks; each designed to meet the diverse requirements of 4 H ‐• clubs, • after school programs, ‐• individual youth and • school enrichment activities.

Curriculum Overview (cont.)

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Each track of the curriculum has a design team working with an instructional designer and external evaluators.

Each track presents: • basic physical science concepts

related to robotic systems,• the scientific inquiry process,• the engineering design process,• technology tools for learning

and communications,• exploration of SET careers.

Track 1: Virtual Robotics

Virtual Robotics is an• on-line space • for individual

learners • to experiment

with building and programming robots

• in a virtual environment.

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Track 2: Junk Drawer Robotics

Junk Drawer Robotics is a • youth-led program • that guides learners

through the design, construction and testing of robots

• using everyday objects.

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Track 3: Robotics Platforms

Robotics Platforms is an • on-line curriculum • which challenges youth

to apply the engineering processes of designing, building and programming robots

• Uses robotic kits • apply what they learned

in a challenge activity.

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Track 2: Junk Drawer Robotics

Junk Drawer Robotics Our development team from the University of California 4-H Program will share about how Junk Drawer Robotics is a tool to encourage young people into interest and careers in STEM areas.

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4-H Teen Member

Marcus Peck• 4-H Teen Member, • Kern County, Ca.• Curriculum

presenter• Recent high school

grad and declared engineering major fall 2010

4-H Teen Member

• Diverse groups encourage perpetual peer to peer learning

• Competition breeds innovation and exploration

4-H Teen Member

• Original thinking• Sparking self motivation and a sense

of pride which will perpetuate into their futures.

4-H Teen Member co-developer

Spencer Downey

• 4-H Teen Member

• Merced County, Ca.

• County 4-H Tech Team

• Assisted in activity development and trainings

• Current high school student

4-H Teen Member co-developer

What I have contributed

• Writing curriculum

• Testing project activities

• Stirring interest in 4-H and Robotics

• Holding workshops and events

4-H Teen Member co-developer

Future Endeavors

• Opportunities to work with professors and students in Science and Engineering

• Provide curriculum to others and promote girls in engineering

4-H Teen Member co-developer

Goals

• To inform people of the opportunities in STEM

• To get kids interested in these fields early, so they can plan for college

• I am becoming more interested in a major in engineering

Undergrad engineering student

Daniel Leong, • Student Intern • Merced County,

Ca.• Mechanical

Engineer undergrad at UC Merced

• SHPE Chapter Vice President

Undergrad engineering student

How does it affect children

• Teaches design process

• Encourages collaborations with peers

• Encourage students to be creative

• Thinking outside of the box using material and tools

Undergrad engineering student

Why is this important

• Preparing students to think like an engineer and scientist

• Students will routinely use basic technique that will become second nature

Undergrad engineering student

My role in the program

• Developing and redesigning the curriculum

• Presented curriculum at different sites to a range of age groups

• Help encourage young minds to become engineers

Volunteer 4-H Leader

Carolyn Newton, • 4-H Volunteer Leader• Santa Cruz County, Ca.

Volunteer 4-H Leader

• How 4-H Robotics works for teens

• How 4-H Robotics works for youth

Volunteer 4-H Leader

• Creative and inventive for the youth

• Its fun and exciting for youth

Volunteer 4-H Leader

• Various venues for sharing in 4-H and community

• Student groups variable • Ages – K – 12, • Mixed age groups• Dynamic groups in flux • Smaller group size –

4 to 10 typical

Community based non-formal youth programs

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• Other parameters• Self selected interest• Evaluation type and amount

varies • Instruction activities can be

led by:• Non credentialed personnel • Cross age teens• Volunteers and others

Community based non-formal youth programs

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Hands-on and Heads-on

• Inquiry and Experiential Learning • Highlighting both the science inquiry • Project based experiential learning

• Brings together the mind and the hands.

• Heads-on learning styles.• Learning Cycle

• Exploration• Sharing and Processing• Generalizing and Applying

Community based non-formal youth programs

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Heads-on

Heads-on

Heads-on

Heads-on

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4-H Science, Engineering, Technology

Building America’s Workforce

Questions?

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