Michigan State University (MSU)

1. Middle and High School Design Day

   (approximately 175 students and 25 teachers)

• Spring, April 26, 2014
• Fall, December 2014

Program Description:

Middle and High School Innovative and Creative Dart Foundation Design Day focuses on immersing students and teachers in hands-on and experiential engineering education. It introduces them to innovative and inspiring engineering designs and projects. Participating students and teachers work on engineering projects such as using smart materials to generate electrical current, building a sample of asphalt material incorporating crumb rubber, and building a wireless monitoring system.

2. Spartan Engineering for Teens Summer Commuter program (20 middle school) – June 24th
   

Program Description:

Spartan Engineering for Teens is designed to be a catalyst in developing students who are motivated and well prepared to choose careers in science, math, and engineering fields. This program is dedicated to teaching future engineers and scientists the skills to be leaders in this exciting interdisciplinary field. Students in the program will use micro-sensors and robots while learning science, engineering, and mathematics. Working with science teachers and engineering faculty, students will design and build experiments. Students will learn about various engineering majors, be involved in short courses, demonstrations, field trips and hands-on experiments.

3.  High School Engineering Institute I, II and III (40 HS students per session) – July

Program Description:

Students spend a week exploring engineering through lecture, lab and design sessions run by faculty and student assistants from our various programs. This activity is intended for rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors seriously considering engineering as their career choice, this residential program is designed to give in-depth experiences in engineering majors. Our focus in CHPP is to convince these students to pursue a college degree in a transportation-related area. Students will spend time with an engineering faculty member, a graduate student, an undergraduate student engaged in short lecture, demonstrations, hands-on experiments, team-based problem solving, and tours. Presentations by the Honors College, Admissions Office, Study Abroad and The Center (Co-op/Internship and Undergraduate Research Opportunities) as well as tours of engineering research facilities will be conducted.

4. Introduction to Robotics Engineering (40 HS students) – July

Program Description:

Designed for students interested in exploring the exciting field of robotics. Students will learn about the fields of engineering involved in robotics and will work with NXT and VEX robotics, biomimetic robotic fish, nanorobotics, mechatronics and, manufacturing automation.

The program focuses on short lectures, hands-on experiments, team work and lab tours.

5. Metro Detroit Youth Day (approximately 10,000 kids) – Transportation and Pavement theme.  Invite Formula SAE, Baja Racing team, Steel Bridge, and Solar car student org.

FIRST LEGO, VEX IQ, and VEX robotics display with transportation theme.

Website: http://www.youth-day.com/index.html

• Wednesday, February 05, 2014 – Email student organization regarding the Metro Detroit Youth Day Event and request participation.
• Monday, February 10 – Inform the Metro Detroit Youth Day of MSU’s intent to participate and organize the “Transportation and Highway Pavement Preservation Day”.
•  February – March – Invite all transportation and pavement preservation related groups to display and showcase their hands-on interactive activities.
• April – June – Organize placement and logistics to transport over to Bell Isle, Detroit for the event, July 9^th, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Order Highway Pavement Preservation related small give-a-ways.
• Book hotels, and meals for participants.
• July 7 – Organization meeting to address last minute instruction, Q&A.
• July 9 – Everyone all-hands on deck and enjoy interacting with 15,000 youth.
• Photos from the event.

6. Development of a Highway Pavement Preservation short course.

Program Description:

The intent is to develop a short course in 3 different transportation-related areas. The course will be designed so that it could be used by Middle and High school teachers in their classrooms. The course will focus on the use of smart materials and image analysis techniques for pavement monitoring, the use of crumb rubber in asphalt to introduce students to materials.

Timeline:

• February 5 – 18 Individual meeting with CHPP faculty
• February 28 – Identify short course topics related to CHPP
• February 15 – March 31 – Weekly curriculum development meeting
• March 1 – 31 – Lesson and hands-on activity planning
• April 1 – Lesson plans and activities plan completed in 3 CHPP related topics
• April 1 – 13  – Order hands on activities materials and supplies/secure give-a-ways to promote UTC CPP2
• April 20 – Design Day preparation completion deadline for 175 HS students.

7. TeachEngineering.org lesson plan and hands-on activities publication

Program Description:

The short course developed previously will be prepared according to TeachEngineering.org format. Designed for students interested in exploring the exciting field of robotics. The course will focus on short lectures, hands-on experiments, team work and lab tours.

Timeline:

• February 6 – Lesson plan development and hands-on activities
• April 2 – Upload HPP2 lesson plans and hands on activity plans on the TeachEngineering website
• April 2 – ?  – Peer review, review, and publication on the TeachEngineering.org. an engineering lesson plan clearinghouse that most of NSF RET Site and Centers utilize for the use of middle and high school STEM teachers

8. Preview Day showcase of Highway Pavement Preservation related research in connection with Civil Engineering.

Program Description:

The day will be planned with different activities and sessions for the different age groups. Hands-on displays and demonstrations will be aimed at K-6 grade students. Laboratory tours, laboratory demonstrations and brief presentations will be prepared for 7-9 grade (middle-school) students. Hands-on laboratory activities and brief workshops will be organized for 10-12 grade (high-school) students. A keynote lecture will be given to all attendees at the beginning of the event. Special displays will be designed and built for this event to facilitate the communication of basic concepts related to materials, structures and sensor technology. The PIs of centered-sponsored projects will be expected to contribute to this annual outreach event by serving as speakers for the presentations and workshops, preparing laboratory demonstrations from their research activities, and man-power from the graduate students funded by the different powers to assist the visiting students.

• Displays set-up at the VEX Robotics State Championship in March, 2014
• Invite transportation related student organizations to set up display
• Invite and provide space for MDOT and USDOT to set-up display and hands on
• MSU Civil Engineering on deck to showcase Highway Pavement Preservation2
• Set up a table to give out pamphlet and small give-a-ways

9. Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)

Program Description:

The program will recruit teachers from schools in Mid- and Southeast Michigan with a focus on those serving socioeconomically challenged populations and students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering. RET participants will attend a 6-week summer institute, to participate in cutting-edge research on transportation-related area, with mentoring from engineering faculty at MSU. Working with PIs, faculty mentors, a curriculum development specialist and an editor of TeachEngineering.org, teachers will develop innovative, standards-compliant curriculum modules and participate in a number of professional development activities. Extensive follow-up activities are planned throughout the academic year to ensure the translation of lab experience into classroom practice, and to foster and strengthen long-term partnership between engineering faculty and teachers. A third-party professional program evaluator will track and evaluate the program and provide feedback for improvement. The evaluator will also conduct longitudinal studies on participants to assess the longer-term impact of the program.

Broader Impacts

The proposed RET Site project is expected to enrich the professional development of a number of future leaders in STEM education, about half being females with a similar ratio for minorities. It will also result in innovative curriculum for science and technology courses, and pique the interest of middle and high school students in scientific inquiry, specifically transportation. Through the partnership with schools in Lansing, Detroit, and Grand Rapids, and the all-girls Regina High School, the proposed project will positively influence the learning and career paths of young students, especially students from underserved districts and underrepresented groups in Michigan and beyond for years to come, thus contributing to a technology-savvy workforce that is much needed by America.

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NCA&T)

1. Summer High School Transportation Institute (STI)

Program Description:

Summer High School Transportation Institute is a five week program on NC A&T campus targeting high performing high school juniors and seniors.  The objective is to introduce students to the Transportation field and encourage them to continue their studies at the college level.  Students are introduced various aspects of transportation and visit transportation sites including a major port and other transportation facilities in Washington DC.  NC A&T’s center for Highway Pavement Preservation contributes to the STI training by providing lecture and hands on training as relates to pavement materials characterization, performance analysis and pavement preservation practices.

2. Engineering Day

Program Description:

During the Engineering day, the college of engineering hosts more than 700 students (K-12) and engage them through more than 20 educational stations organized and host by various programs and research group on campus. Civil Engineering department in which the Center for Highway Pavement Preservation (CHPP) will be housed annually organizes four educational stations.  As part of the CHPP outreach program at NC A&T, we will host a station related to pavement maintenance and preservation.

University of Hawaii – Manoa (UH)

1. Summer Internship Program for High School Students

Program Description:

The Summer Internship Program is a highly competitive six-week program that allows high school juniors (heading into their senior year) to take a hands-on approach to working in College of Engineering research laboratories. Along the way, interns also participate in group activities and a field trip to local engineering companies. At the end, they make a presentation about what they learned during the summer.

The UH Pavement Engineering Laboratory will host two high school students so that they gain experience in material’s research related to pavement preservation.

2. Engineering Day  (September of every year)

Program Description:

Hosted by the College, this half-day event brings together 250 to 300 registered high school students, parents, teachers, and their counselors. The day consists of a brief overview of the College’s engineering program followed by a tour of its high-tech research laboratories and an informative question-and-answer session. There are also many opportunities to talk with faculty and current engineering students, including a meet-and-greet session at the end of the event.

In the past, the UH Pavement Engineering Laboratory has often been one of the labs open for the tours. As part of this outreach program, it is planned to open the lab for every Engineering Day and to put more emphasis during the lab presentations to pavement preservation activities.

3. Blueprints: Engineering your Manoa Success (August of every year)

Program Description:

A welcoming and orientation event for first time incoming freshmen, transfer students, and families. Students are able to design their own blueprint to success at UH Manoa while meeting the faculty, listening to industry leaders, learning about the opportunities offered, and making new friends.

Again, the Pavement Engineering Laboratory is typically one of the featured labs. It is planned to continue working with the college on this outreach activity.

4. Participation in school career days/fairs

Program Description:

The College’s STEM Marketing and Public Affairs Officer works with teachers and counselors at the schools to present information either in a group setting or at a school fair that involves other community partners. In either setting, students are engaged in activities and discussions related to information regarding engineering opportunities and the College. When possible, faculty and graduate students are invited to collaborate in these outreach efforts. Some past events include Kaimuki High School College Career Fair, Wilson Elementary Career Day, Stevenson Middle Career Day and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle/Halau Ku Mana.

University of Illinois – Urbana / Champaign (UIUC)

1. Training camps for high school students and minorities

Program Description:

Minorities and women have a lower representation in the science and engineering programs in universities. Several reasons suggested for this disconnect is due to lack of knowledge and emphasis on the social value and relevance of science, mathematics and engineering subject matters as well as the lack of multi-disciplinary project teams. The disconnection between subject material and life applicability has been shown to affect the retention of women in engineering. The research targeted by CHPP provides an ideal platform to emphasize social and environmental relevance of basic science and engineering subject matters. The strong societal impact and creation of multi-disciplinary teams will be crucial to attract female and underrepresented minorities for the graduate and undergraduate student positions supported by this research.

The investigators of this research planning to reach out high school students, females and minorities in particular, through mainly summer camps and open house activities described below.

2. Women in Engineering G.A.M.E.S Camp

Program Description:

Girls’ adventures in mathematics, engineering, and science (G.A.M.E.S.) will be the primary channel for our outreach activities. This is an annual week long camp designed to give academically talented high school girls an opportunity to explore exciting engineering and scientific fields through demonstrations, classroom presentations, and hands-on activities. The investigators of this research have already started to communicate with the organizers of the camp to schedule half-a-day activity. The planned activities will take place at ATREL (Advance Transportation and Research and Engineering Laboratory) with hands-on laboratory demonstrations and classroom activities. The primary objective of the activities is to highlight importance of environmental considerations in transportation engineering with practical examples and quantify the impact of savings in greenhouse gas emissions and consumptions of natural resources. Pavement preservation applications are excellent examples to quantify such savings.

Further information about the G.A.M.E.S. camp can be found in the following link:

http://publish.illinois.edu/womeninengineering/camps/g-a-m-e-s-camp/\

The camp’s meeting will take place July 13 – July 19, 2014. Since the program is already finalized, we are only going to supplement some of the activities to gain some experience and become familiar with the camp’s expectations. The proposed outreach activities will be a part of next year’s summer camp.