K-12 Engineering in the Local Schools: S.T.O.M.P. @ MIT
The Student Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program


 

Want to help teach engineering to elementary school students? The Student Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program at MIT will pair MIT engineering students with local K-8 teachers who want to implement engineering activities in their classrooms.

 

All students, faculty, and staff interested in participating should attend one of the following:

Thursday, Feb. 23, 7:30-8:30pm, 1-246

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 7:30-8:30pm, 2-135

See also Student makes engineering kid-friendly from the MIT News Office.

 

Engineering in elementary school?

Yes, kids can learn about engineering concepts and complete design projects - and at the same time, increase their learning and interest in math and science! A variety of tools, from simple toothpicks and marshmallows to more complex LEGOTM bricks and RobolabTM software, can be used to help kids learn math, science, and engineering.

 

At upcoming infomational sessions, you can try out LEGO engineering activities and learn how they help kids learn math, science, and engineering. You'll also hear about opportunities to try out your new teaching techniques in Cambridge classrooms during spring 2006.  Did you know that the engineering design process is now part of the Massachusetts K-12 science curriculum? Members of S.T.O.M.P.@Tufts are already bringing engineering to kids in the Medford-Somerville area.

 

How do I join?

Our MIT group will consist of students and faculty who visit local Cambridge K-8 classrooms weekly to help implement engineering activities. Hopefully, classroom fellows will receive stipends for time spent on preparation and instruction (which will total ~ 4 hours per week).

 

If you're interested in being on the student leadership team for this group, or in becoming one of the first classroom fellows, please contact Kristen Bethke (kbethke[at]mit[dot]edu).  Planning meetings, group development, and first classroom partnerships are slated for February through May, 2006.

 

What if I would like participate in classroom visits but not be on the leadership team?

Please attend one of the planning meetings, even if you are interested solely in classroom visitations and not in being a member of the leadership team.

What if I can't attend the info sessions or planning meetings?

To view engineering activities that can be used with elementary and middle school students, follow the links in the table at the bottom of this web page.  Be sure to check out the lessons at http://ceeo.tufts.edu/robolabatceeo/K12/collections.asp. The Museum of Science in Boston, also has a great site about elementary school engineering: http://www.mos.org/eie/.

  

What do we need to plan?

  • Student leadership positions
  • Faculty sponsors
  • Classroom teacher partners
  • Classroom visitation schedules
  • Curriculum
  • Pedagogical training
  • Materials to be purchased
  • Student stipends
  • Funding sources

Who is coordinating this effort?

The formation of this MIT student group is being led by Kristen Bethke, a graduate student in the aero/astro department at MIT. During her time at MIT, she has shared many engineering lessons with children by volunteering in local science classrooms and at various educational outreach events. The impetus for this MIT initiative comes from Professor Chris Rogers of Tufts University,  who would like to spread the Tufts model of putting engineering students in K-8 classrooms to as many other universities as possible. Kristen's task is to cultivate a group of MIT students who will become the leadership team of this engineering classroom visitation program.  

What resources will this student group have?

This group is being formed with help and seed money from Tufts S.T.O.M.P.  We're also receiving organizational support from the MIT Public Service Center and the MIT Edgerton Center.  Most likely we'll become an Edgerton Center student club.

     

When and where can I get involved?

 

EVENT

DATE

LOCATION

DESCRIPTION

Information & LEGO Engineering Session – Date 2

Thurs., Feb. 23, 6:30-7:30pm

 

1-246

Another chance to learn how LEGO bricks and other materials can be used to teach math, science, and engineering to kids.

Planning Meeting for MIT K-12 Engineering Outreach Student Group – Date 1

 

Thurs., Feb. 23, 7:30-8:30pm

1-246

All students, faculty, and staff interested in participating in the classroom outreach program should attend either the Feb. 23 or Feb. 28 meeting. 

Information & LEGO Engineering Session – Date 3

Tues., Feb. 28, 6:30-7:30pm

 

2-135

Yet another chance to learn how LEGO bricks and other materials can be used to teach math, science, and engineering to kids.

Planning Meeting for MIT K-12 Engineering Outreach Student Group – Date 2

Tues., Feb. 28, 7:30-8:30pm

 

2-135

Another chance to provide input about group formation strategies and to sign up to participate in classroom visits.

 

First Classroom Visitation Opportunity:

Haggerty School 4th- 6th Grade Engineering Club

 

Every Wed., 2:00-4:00pm, starting March 8

 

Haggerty School, Cambridge

If you already know you're interested in volunteering, please let Kristen know!

 

 

   

Teaching Engineering to Kids: Further Information

 

Engineering Activities Online

Tufts Center for Engineering Educational Outreach Robolab activities – Follow links for "Robolab@CEEO, " "K-12 Curriculum and Activities, " "Curriculum Units"

http://ceeo.tufts.edu/

http://ceeo.tufts.edu/robolabatceeo

The National Science Digital Library "TeachEngineering" Resources for K-12 Engineering

http://www.teachengineering.org

PreK-12 Engineering in Massachusetts

http://www.prek-12engineering.org

National Engineers Week Archive of Activities

http://www.eweek.org/site/DiscoverE/activities/archive.shtml

Society of Women Engineers Internet Activities Center

http://www.swe.org/iac/

 

General Information on K-12 Engineering

ASEE Engineering K12 Center – Information for students, educators, engineers, on why and how to do K-12 engineering

http://www.engineeringk12.org

National Engineers Week (Feb. 19-25, 2006) – Tons of great resources for engineers, students, and teachers

http://www.eweek.org

National Academy of Engineering Technological Literacy Website – Makes the case for bringing engineering to K-12

http://www.nae.edu/techlit

Museum of Science, Boston, National Center for Technological Literacy

http://www.mos.org/nctl

Boston Globe article on Museum of Science efforts to bring engineering to kids

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2005/12/11/science_project/

 

Examples of Engineering Education Outreach Groups at Other Universities

Tufts S.T.O.M.P.

http://www.stompnetwork.org

Princeton PEEK

http://www.princeton.edu/~peek

Georgia Tech STEP

http://www.cetl.gatech.edu/services/step/overview.htm

 

References

How have other universities formed partnerships between engineering students and local K-12 teachers?

Portsmore, M., Rogers, C., Pickering, M. (2003). ÑSTOMP: Student Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program. (PDF) Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition.

What will MIT students gain from this experience?

Pickering, M., Ryan, E., Conroy, K., Gravel, B., Portsmore, M. (2004). Ñ The Benefits of Outreach to Engineering Students. (PDF) Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Enigneering Education Annual Conference & Exposition.

What other skills will MIT students build besides their LEGO-building skills?

Cejka, E., Pickering, M., Conroy, K., Moretti, L., Portsmore, M. (2005). Ñ What do college engineering students learn in K-12 classrooms? (PDF) Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition.

 

MIT