Making STEM Connections - Ted Ducas

STEM Summit February 2010

Making STEM Connections

Along and Across the Educational System

Ted DucasPhysics Department

Wellesley College

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Making STEM Connections

II. Along the Educational System

Connecting to Potential Pre-College Teachers

The TOPS Summer Program

I. Across the Educational System

Connecting liberal arts college students to opportunities at engineering institutions

Introduction to Engineering Science at Wellesley

III. Beyond the Local Propagating the Programs

I. Connecting Across the Educational SystemConnecting liberal arts college students to

opportunities at engineering institutions

Liberal Arts College Engineering Schools



The Challenge

• Students who come to Wellesley with an interest in engineering generally know very little about engineering.

• They want to take advantage of our links to MIT and Olin but neither of these institutions has a general introduction to engineering.

The Objectives

• To provide an exciting and effective introduction to engineering that enables these students to take advantage of engineering opportunities in an informed and fulfilling manner.

• To attract even more excellent students with such interests.

• To do this with limited and sensible resources that can be sustained.

I. Connecting Across the Educational SystemConnecting liberal arts college students to

opportunities at engineering institutions


INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE AT WELLESLEY

ENTERING WELLESLEYINTERESTED BUT

UNINFORMED

ENGINEERINGOPPORTUNITIES ATOLIN AND MIT

THE SOLUTION: An impedance match to optimize access to engineering opportunities


AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERINGIS THE IMPEDANCE MATCH

• Learning what doing engineering is like by working on design projects, using teamwork and getting exposure to basic principles and techniques

• Learning about the wide range of engineering fields and activities

THE COMPONENTS OF THE INTRODUCTORY ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

• A hands-on course at Wellesley taught by Wellesley and Olin professors

• An engineering seminar series

• Coordinated faculty advising at all three institutions


Introduction to Engineering

Course

Engineering Career Seminar

Series

Coordinated Advising

Opportunities at Olin and MIT

Introduction to Engineering at Wellesley College


Escapement Project plus Solidworks Model


Robotics Project Plus Hands


II. Connecting Along the Educational System Connecting to Potential Pre-College Teachers


"About two-thirds of the students studying chemistry and physics in U.S. high schools are taught by teachers with no major or certificate in the subject."

Testimony by Norman R. Augustinebefore the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

The Challenge

The Objectives

• Inspire physics majors to enter teaching careers

• Create an expanding network of teacher/leaders

• Serve as a model program for others

II. Connecting Along the Educational System Connecting to Potential Pre-College Teachers


TOPS: Teaching Opportunities in Physical Science

• A summer program encouraging physics or engineering majors towards pre-college teaching

• A partnership with MIT and Harvard via the Center for Ultracold Atoms (CUA) as well as with the Boston Museum of Science and Wellesley College

OUR RESPONSE

TOPS: Teaching Opportunities in Physical Science

• Six Week Summer Program

• Eight Undergraduates in two teams of four work with experienced lead teachers to develop curricula and hands-on experiences and teach a: 1-week course to middle school students at the Boston Museum of Science 2-week course to high school students at MIT

• Topics are based on CUA-related themes: Heat/Energy and Light/Waves


Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

Week 4

Week 5

Wrap-Up

Week 6

TOPS SCHEDULE

Intro / CUA Tour / Form Teams / Start Planning

Develop Courses / CUA Talks / Prep & Practice

Teach Middle Schoolers at Museum of Science

Review MOS / Prep & Practice for High Schoolers

Teach High Schoolers at MIT

Teach High Schoolers at MIT

Review / Teaching Opportunities / Certification


Measuring Temperatures at the Boston Museum of Science


Working with TOPS undergrads


III. Connecting Beyond the Local:

Propagating the Programs

• Identify key components of the programs

• Communicate with colleagues at other institutions

• Give talks and publish

• Consider larger scale umbrella programs e.g. TEU - Teaching Experience for Undergraduates (analogous to NSF REU Research Experience for Undergraduates)

Acknowledgements


Introduction to Engineering

Prof. Brian Storey, OlinProf. Gill Pratt, OlinProf. Robbie Berg, Wellesley

Mellon Foundation Davis Educational Foundation

Wellesley CollegeOlin College of Engineering

Acknowledgements (Cont.)


TOPS

Prof. Dan Kleppner , MITJamie Formato, Thayer AcademyKim Meyer, Newton North High SchoolLaura Nickerson, Beaver Country Day SchoolAmy Winston, Newton North High SchoolDon Donovan, Thayer AcademyDenise Labieniec, The Winsor School

NSFArthur Vining Davis FoundationsFlorence Hewlett FoundationBoston Museum of ScienceMIT/Harvard CUA

Making STEM Connections - Ted Ducas

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