Design, Code, Build, Test: Development of an Experiential Learning Summer Engineering and Computer Science Outreach Program for High School Students (Evaluation)

Sharnnia Artis; Gregory N. Washington

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Conference: 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Publication Date: June 24, 2017
Start Date: June 24, 2017
End Date: June 28, 2017
Conference Session: Pre-college: Summer Experiences for Students and Teachers (1)
Tagged Division: Pre-College Engineering Education Division
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 15
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--28122
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/28122
Download Count: 512

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Paper Authors

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Sharnnia Artis University of California, Irvine

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Dr. Sharnnia Artis is the Assistant Dean of Access and Inclusion for the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. She is responsible for programs at the pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate levels to facilitate the recruitment, retention, and overall success of students from traditionally underrepresented groups in engineering and information and computer sciences. Dr. Artis has 18 years of experience working with education and outreach programs in engineering and over 35 publications in STEM education and outreach. Prior to joining UC Irvine, she was the Education and Outreach Director for the Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Previously, Dr. Artis spent nine years at Virginia Tech providing program and student support for the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity and has four years of industry and government experience as a Human Factors Engineer. Dr. Artis holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech.

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Gregory N. Washington University of California, Irvine

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Gregory Washington is Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Stacey Nicolas Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California Irvine. Professor Washington has been involved in multidomain research for the last 20 years. He is the first African-American Dean of Engineering at any of the University of California, Campuses. His core area of interest lies in the area of dynamic systems: modeling and control. During this time he has been involved in the following applications: the design and control of mechanically actuated antennas, advanced control of machine tools, the design and control of Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and structural position and vibration control with smart materials. He has written more than 150 technical publications in journals, edited volumes, and conference proceedings and is internationally known for his research on ultra-lightweight structurally active antenna systems and other structures that involve the use of “smart materials”. Professor Washington has served on several advisory boards to include the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and the National Science Foundation Engineering Advisory Board. He currently serves on the Pubic Policy Committee of the ASEE Engineering Deans Council. Professor Washington received his BS, MS and PhD degrees from NC State.

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Abstract

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) “pipeline” that is imagined to guide students from middle school into successful STEM careers implies a single path. This path often requires students to develop an interest in STEM by middle school, choose particular math and science courses in middle- and high-school, and gain experience and exposure in STEM activities through their high school tenure. While successful for approximately 7% of students who entered 9th grade in 2001, this system has filtered out 93% of the population, including many students who might have had interest and potential to pursue STEM careers. Importantly, this pernicious systemic problem impacts students of color (African American, Hispanic American, American Indian and Alaska Native students) disproportionately. To address this challenge, Access Summer Program to Inspire Recruit and Enrich (ASPIRE) was designed to broaden the participation of students of color and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by inspiring and preparing them to pursue degrees in engineering and computing.

ASPIRE is a two-week residential summer outreach program with emphasis on the engineering and technology components of STEM to prepare high-school students with 21st century skills of critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. The program provides students with the confidence needed to enter the dynamic workforce of the future, which requires understanding of basic structure, materials and electrical design and computing. This program is guided by project-based learning, an experiential learning pedagogy that focuses on excitement, engagement, applying the scientific method and engineering process, and making a presentation to demonstrate mastery of these principles. ASPIRE introduces students to the fields of computer science and engineering. Students participate in hands-on group projects centered on the Internet-of-Things. The experiential learning experience provides students exposure to computer programming/coding, computer aided design, laser cutting, and 3D printing. Through ASPIRE, students are able to engage with their peers, form networks, and gain a sense of community. In the past two summers, 41 students have participated in the program. This paper provides details on the design and evaluation of the ASPIRE program.

Citation
Format

Artis, S., & Washington, G. N. (2017, June), Design, Code, Build, Test: Development of an Experiential Learning Summer Engineering and Computer Science Outreach Program for High School Students (Evaluation) Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--28122

TY - CPAPER
AB - The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) “pipeline” that is imagined to guide students from middle school into successful STEM careers implies a single path. This path often requires students to develop an interest in STEM by middle school, choose particular math and science courses in middle- and high-school, and gain experience and exposure in STEM activities through their high school tenure. While successful for approximately 7% of students who entered 9th grade in 2001, this system has filtered out 93% of the population, including many students who might have had interest and potential to pursue STEM careers. Importantly, this pernicious systemic problem impacts students of color (African American, Hispanic American, American Indian and Alaska Native students) disproportionately. To address this challenge, Access Summer Program to Inspire Recruit and Enrich (ASPIRE) was designed to broaden the participation of students of color and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by inspiring and preparing them to pursue degrees in engineering and computing.

ASPIRE is a two-week residential summer outreach program with emphasis on the engineering and technology components of STEM to prepare high-school students with 21st century skills of critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. The program provides students with the confidence needed to enter the dynamic workforce of the future, which requires understanding of basic structure, materials and electrical design and computing. This program is guided by project-based learning, an experiential learning pedagogy that focuses on excitement, engagement, applying the scientific method and engineering process, and making a presentation to demonstrate mastery of these principles. ASPIRE introduces students to the fields of computer science and engineering. Students participate in hands-on group projects centered on the Internet-of-Things. The experiential learning experience provides students exposure to computer programming/coding, computer aided design, laser cutting, and 3D printing. Through ASPIRE, students are able to engage with their peers, form networks, and gain a sense of community. In the past two summers, 41 students have participated in the program. This paper provides details on the design and evaluation of the ASPIRE program.

AU - Sharnnia Artis
AU - Gregory N. Washington
CY - Columbus, Ohio
DA - 2017/06/24
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Design, Code, Build, Test: Development of an Experiential Learning Summer Engineering and Computer Science Outreach Program for High School Students (Evaluation)
UR - https://strategy.asee.org/28122
DO - 10.18260/1-2--28122
ER -