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Session 3448

An Overview of Secondary School Engineering Outreach Programs - Including Details of a Multidisciplinary Outreach Program Based on Integrating Digital Photography, Digital Electronics, and Roller Coasters William L. Ziegler Associate Professor Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science Binghamton University State University of New York Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

Abstract: Enrollments in post-secondary technology, engineering, math, and science have dropped off significantly and continue to decline. Student scores in math and science in the United States (US) are significantly lower than other developed countries. To alleviate these declines, schools are attempting to interest students from kindergarten to grade 12 (k-12) in technology, engineering, math, and science disciplines. Schools across the US have implemented a variety of formal programs such as Project Lead-the-Way in attempts to promote student interest in these fields. Additionally, technology and engineering have been introduced to middle and secondary school curriculums using a variety of less formal methods. For example, students can participate in structural load competitions, mousetrap powered vehicle racing, egg-drop competitions, model rocketry, hands on computer applications, and many other interesting endeavors revolving around technology. Through interactions with middle and secondary students, there is hope to successfully encourage young students to continue their post-secondary education in technological fields.

This paper begins by providing an overview of both formal and informal outreach projects at the middle and secondary school level in most of the engineering and technology disciplines. Brief descriptions of many student projects are included.

A community-based multidisciplinary outreach project involving a coordinated mix of digital electronics, digital photography, and roller coasters is then described in detail. This project was used as part of an outreach program coordinated by the Boy Scouts of America Explorers Program, the British Aerospace Systems Corporation (BAE Systems), and the State University of New York. This particular program provided multidisciplinary experiences over a very broad spectrum of technologies including electrical, automotive, civil, construction, architecture, mechanical, industrial, and computer disciplines.

Students began by building a large model roller coaster, which provided experiences in architectural, civil, construction, mechanical, and other related engineering technologies and

Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Copyright 2004, American Society for Engineering Education.

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Ziegler, W. (2004, June), An Overview Of Secondary School Engineering Outreach Techniques Including Details Of A Multidisciplinary Outreach Program Based On Integrating Digital Photography, Digital Electronics, And Roller Coasters Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--12868