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Impacts of Engineering Summer Camp at East Tennessee State University

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Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Engineering Engagement Activities

Tagged Division

Engineering Technology Division (ETD)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/47568

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Paper Authors

biography

Mohammad Moin Uddin P.E. East Tennessee State University

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Dr. Mohammad Moin Uddin is an associate professor in the Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Surveying at East Tennessee State University. He holds a joint appointment as an Associate Professor of Engineering and Engineering Technology

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biography

Keith V. Johnson East Tennessee State University

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Dr. Keith V. Johnson is Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and is professor and Chair of the Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology and Surveying at East Tennessee State University. He completed his undergraduate and Master’s Degree from North Carolina A&T State University and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.
Dr. Johnson is responsible for the university’s equity and inclusion strategic plan. In his academic department, he is also responsible for nine undergraduate and graduate programs. He assures current and innovative academic curriculums and is responsible for maintaining program accreditations including the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the Council for Interior Design (CIDA).
Dr. Keith Johnson has been very active with the American Society for Engineering Education for 30 years. During his tenure, he served on the ASEE education advisory board and conference and program chairs for the annual meetings. In addition, he served as chair for the Engineering Technology Division and Engineering Technology Council of ASEE. Currently, Dr. Johnson serves as program evaluator and commissioner for ETAC of ABET.

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Abstract

The increasing demand for professionals in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has created a critical need for effective recruitment strategies to nurture and develop the next generation of STEM talent. Summer camps offer a unique and immersive learning environment that appeals to students of all ages, fostering an interest in STEM subjects while encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. This paper describes a week-long engineering summer camp program designed for middle and high school students in 2023 at East Tennessee State university (ETSU). The main goal of the camp was to introduce student engineering, programs in the department and job prospects and to spark their interest in pursuing engineering education and career. During the camp students engaged in hands-on learning experiences and featured lessons focusing on 3D scanning, drone technologies, 3D printing, circuitry, robot building, and prototyping. Students also learned about ETSU admission processes, educational programs, financial aid, student organizations and college life. At the end of each day, students completed a survey about their experiences on that day’s activities. Data analysis showed that the camp helped students to learn more about what engineers do and made them more inclined to study engineering. This paper presents the effectiveness of the camp’s aims, camp planning and design, the results from the participant surveys, and lessons learned by the organizers in conducting the camp. The importance of creating inclusive, diverse, and equitable summer camps is emphasized to ensure that underrepresented groups have equal opportunities in STEM recruitment.

Uddin, M. M., & Johnson, K. V. (2024, June), Impacts of Engineering Summer Camp at East Tennessee State University Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47568

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