BOARD # 315: A Customizable Engineering Outreach Program for Elementary through High School Students (EDU/DRL)

Kathleen Dinota; Monica Bugallo

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Conference: 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publication Date: June 22, 2025
Start Date: June 22, 2025
End Date: August 15, 2025
Conference Session: NSF Grantees Poster Session II
Tagged Topic: NSF Grantees Poster Session
Page Count: 5
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/55681

Paper Authors

biography

Kathleen Dinota Stony Brook University

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Kathleen Dinota received her B.S. in Marine Science and M.S. in Secondary Education, retiring in 2017 after teaching in public schools on Long Island, NY for 31 years. During her career, she taught earth science, biology and chemistry as well as science research. Kathleen has also worked in test development at NY State Education Department as an Education Specialist for the Regents Physical Setting Chemistry exam for the past 20 years. She is a former NYS Master Teacher. Kathleen currently serves as the Engineering Education Project Director and Outreach Coordinator at Stony Brook University. Kathleen helps to develop engineering experiences for students from elementary to high school, ensuring alignment to state education standards and use of appropriate pedagogy and managing related logistics.

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biography

Monica Bugallo Stony Brook University orcid.org/0000-0003-2963-1474

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Monica Bugallo is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Stony Brook University. She received her B.S., M.S, and Ph. D. degrees in received her Ph. D. in computer science and engineering from University of A Coruña, Spain. Her research is focused on statistical signal processing, with emphasis on the theory of Monte Carlo methods and its application to different disciplines including biomedicine, ecology, sensor networks, and finance. She has also focused on STEM education and has initiated successful programs to engage students at all academic stages in the excitement of engineering and research, with focus on underrepresented groups.

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Abstract

The implementation of NGSS in the United States has incorporated engineering practices in science education. Elementary and secondary science teachers must find ways to expose students to engineering in ways that are accessible and age-appropriate. In order to attract more students to engineering as a field of study and career path, it is important to offer outreach programs that are both educational and inspirational. Our university-based outreach program introduces students to fundamental engineering concepts through the design, implementation and optimization of a smart night light. The program is designed to be customizable for students in grades 4 through 12 and further tailored to the learning skills and available time of the participating groups. Furthermore, the program emphasizes hands-on learning while integrating engineering principles such as the engineering design process, electrical circuits, basic coding, and microcontroller programming. At the end of this program, students assemble a functional smart night light with four distinct operational modes, reinforcing their understanding of the practical applications of engineering.

Participants begin by exploring the engineering design process, learning how engineers identify problems, brainstorm solutions, design prototypes, and use the iterative process to improve their designs. This process is woven throughout the program as students use it to guide the creation of their night lights. They learn about the components of electrical circuits, including resistors, LEDs, and sensors, and use a breadboard to create a basic circuit for their project. There is an option for students to gain hands-on experience with soldering techniques .

As part of the program, students may also use a block-based coding language, which allows them to learn how to control the behavior of the microcontroller that powers the night light. Depending on the students’ grade level, coding can be part of the learning lesson and can range from simple light-sensor-triggered responses for younger students, to more complex programming for older participants. This flexibility ensures that the program is both challenging and age-appropriate, regardless of the students' prior knowledge.

The program is designed to be delivered in various formats to accommodate the needs of different schools and organizations. It can be conducted in-person at the university’s dedicated engineering outreach lab, in person at school district facilities, or remotely using a packaged kit of materials and online instruction. Furthermore, the program's duration can be adapted, ranging from a 3-hour introductory session to a more in-depth 6-hour workshop, providing educators with the flexibility to integrate the program into their curricula or as a stand-alone experience.

In summary, this program offers students a comprehensive introduction to engineering through an engaging, hands-on project. By constructing a smart night light, students gain practical experience in the engineering design process, electrical circuit assembly, block-based coding, and microcontroller programming, while cultivating their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This adaptable program is well-suited for a variety of educational settings and timeframes, making it an accessible and enriching opportunity for aspiring young engineers.

This work was funded through the NSF Division on Research in Learning.

Citation
Format

Dinota, K., & Bugallo, M. (2025, June), BOARD # 315: A Customizable Engineering Outreach Program for Elementary through High School Students (EDU/DRL) Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/55681

TY - CPAPER
AB - The implementation of NGSS in the United States has incorporated engineering practices in science education. Elementary and secondary science teachers must find ways to expose students to engineering in ways that are accessible and age-appropriate. In order to attract more students to engineering as a field of study and career path, it is important to offer outreach programs that are both educational and inspirational. Our university-based outreach program introduces students to fundamental engineering concepts through the design, implementation and optimization of a smart night light. The program is designed to be customizable for students in grades 4 through 12 and further tailored to the learning skills and available time of the participating groups. Furthermore, the program emphasizes hands-on learning while integrating engineering principles such as the engineering design process, electrical circuits, basic coding, and microcontroller programming. At the end of this program, students assemble a functional smart night light with four distinct operational modes, reinforcing their understanding of the practical applications of engineering.

Participants begin by exploring the engineering design process, learning how engineers identify problems, brainstorm solutions, design prototypes, and use the iterative process to improve their designs. This process is woven throughout the program as students use it to guide the creation of their night lights. They learn about the components of electrical circuits, including resistors, LEDs, and sensors, and use a breadboard to create a basic circuit for their project. There is an option for students to gain hands-on experience with soldering techniques .

As part of the program, students may also use a block-based coding language, which allows them to learn how to control the behavior of the microcontroller that powers the night light. Depending on the students’ grade level, coding can be part of the learning lesson and can range from simple light-sensor-triggered responses for younger students, to more complex programming for older participants. This flexibility ensures that the program is both challenging and age-appropriate, regardless of the students&#39; prior knowledge.

The program is designed to be delivered in various formats to accommodate the needs of different schools and organizations. It can be conducted in-person at the university’s dedicated engineering outreach lab, in person at school district facilities, or remotely using a packaged kit of materials and online instruction. Furthermore, the program&#39;s duration can be adapted, ranging from a 3-hour introductory session to a more in-depth 6-hour workshop, providing educators with the flexibility to integrate the program into their curricula or as a stand-alone experience.

In summary, this program offers students a comprehensive introduction to engineering through an engaging, hands-on project. By constructing a smart night light, students gain practical experience in the engineering design process, electrical circuit assembly, block-based coding, and microcontroller programming, while cultivating their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This adaptable program is well-suited for a variety of educational settings and timeframes, making it an accessible and enriching opportunity for aspiring young engineers.

This work was funded through the NSF Division on Research in Learning.

AU - Kathleen Dinota
AU - Monica Bugallo
CY - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DA - 2025/06/22
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - BOARD # 315: A Customizable Engineering Outreach Program for Elementary through High School Students (EDU/DRL)
UR - https://peer.asee.org/55681
ER -