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Using the Principles of Manual Training to Perform STEM Outreach for Urban Youth

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Conference

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Vancouver, BC

Publication Date

June 26, 2011

Start Date

June 26, 2011

End Date

June 29, 2011

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

K-12 and Pre-College Engineering Poster Session

Tagged Division

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

Page Count

7

Page Numbers

22.1647.1 - 22.1647.7

DOI

10.18260/1-2--18775

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/18775

Download Count

350

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Paper Authors

biography

Greg Murray Pittsburg State University

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Greg Murray is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS. He received his B.S.E.T. in 1993, and his M.S.T. in 1995 from Pittsburg State University, and his M.B.A. in 2002 from Wake Forest University. Professor Murray worked in industry for over 11 years in various product development, process engineering and management roles. He currently teaches subjects based in Engineering Graphics, Computer-Aided Design, Capstone, and Fluid Mechanics.

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biography

Randy Winzer Pittsburg State University

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Randy Winzer is an associate professor in the Electronics Engineering Technology program at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS; he served as the program coordinator from 2002 until 2007. He holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering Technology and has several years of experience supporting various information technology infrastructure projects; primarily those in support of educational content delivery and K-12 education. The past nine summers Professor Winzer has conducted a STEM outreach effort titled "Adventures in Robotics" which has had over 500 participants.

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Abstract

Using the principles of manual training to perform S.T.E.M. outreach for urban youthToday, more so than ever, educators are required to facilitate the knowledge and skills necessaryfor the future workforce of an ever-increasing technologically advanced society. The foundationfor these skills can be found in the principles of science, technology, engineering andmathematics. However, facilitating these fundamentals without application will not serve toeducate the entire child.In order to make courses laden with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)intriguing for middle school children, secondary technology educators should considerpromoting the creative and critical thinking processes by applying the theoretical principles ofSTEM with active knowledge assignments. Assignments that require a tactile-kinestheticcomponent to the psychomotor educational domain will facilitate the hands-on approach tolearning by doing. This structure will support the cognitive learning necessary for success in thestudent’s academic and professional career.This is not a new concept, according to Scott, Sarkees-Wircenski (1996); the manual trainingmovement began in 1878 at Washington University Polytechnic in St. Louis, Missouri. It wasthere that Professor Calvin Woodward implemented a program of manual training forengineering students so they would be more versed in the application of engineering principlesthrough the use of tools and machines. Professor Woodward truly believed in manual activity asa way to enhance the general education concepts found in science, technology, engineering, andmathematics (STEM).This paper will detail an outreach effort that has been conducted by Pittsburg State University forthe past three summers using the LEGO Robotic Invention System, as well as hands-on activitiesdealing with applications in the fields of construction and plastics manufacturing. Data has beengathered and will be shared concerning the effect this effort has had on the participants and theireducational goals.

Murray, G., & Winzer, R. (2011, June), Using the Principles of Manual Training to Perform STEM Outreach for Urban Youth Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--18775

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