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Session 2270

Model for a K-12 Engineering Pipeline

Howard Kimmel and Rosa M. Cano New Jersey Institute of Technology

Abstract

The Center for Pre-College Programs at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) offers initiatives and programs designed to increase educational opportunities for inner-city youngsters, and to improve the quality of education at the elementary and secondary schools in the region and the State. Of special significance are the long-term relationships that have been established with major urban districts such as Newark and Union City, and with individual schools. Many of the programs are targeted towards specific schools within the districts. In addition, we have been able to assist schools to address and meet their specific needs.

Engineering is used as the vehicle to involve pre-college populations in technological education and to motivate the children to pursue technological careers. For example, NJIT’s Women in Engineering & Technology Initiative - FEMME program is an intensive four- week single-gender program offered in the summer to post-fourth through post-eighth grade girls. Academic curricula and coursework is specially designed in alignment with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards (NJCCS). A main thematic unit created for each group introduces each grade level to a different engineering specialty: fourth grade girls study environmental; fifth, aeronautical; sixth, mechanical; seventh, chemical; and eighth, biomedical engineering. This paper describes the organization of the Center and its programs in order to meet the needs of the pre-college students, their teachers, and parents.

Introduction

NJIT, through its Pre-College Center, offers initiatives and programs designed to increase educational opportunities for inner-city youngsters while improving the quality of education at the elementary and secondary grades in the City of Newark, and its environs1-2. Since its establishment in 1978, NJIT’s Pre-college Center has undergone several fundamental transformations of its identity and goals. It has evolved from a locally focused Center working with 40 high school students from Newark schools into a comprehensive academic service department helping a widening geographical audience of over 4,000 students, teachers, parents and educational professionals from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright ©2003, American Society for Engineering Education

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Cano, R., & Kimmel, H. (2003, June), Model For A K 12 Engineering Pipeline Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--11751