About this Abstract |
Meeting |
MS&T22: Materials Science & Technology
|
Symposium
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K-12 Educators Forum
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Presentation Title |
Glass science and Materials engineering to Engage Students (GaMES): An Interdisciplinary Materials Science Camp Designed to Inspire 4th-10th Grade Students through Unique Topics in STEM |
Author(s) |
Casey M. Schwarz, Max Liggett, Kat Swan, Caroline Vauclain, Jason Bennett, Quentin Altemose, Julie Donnelly, Rashi Sharma |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Casey M. Schwarz |
Abstract Scope |
In this work we introduce and describe a model for a week-long intensive camp focused on materials engineering and glass science. Ursinus College’s Glass science and Materials engineering to Engage Students (GaMES) camp was aimed at local middle and high school students from under-represented groups in STEM. No performance criteria was used to determine eligibility. Students in this camp engaged with hands-on classroom kits, experiments, demonstrations, speakers, and community building activities. The camp focused on interdisciplinary topics including engineered materials, glass science, ceramics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, polymer science, and optics. The goal of this program was two-fold: to increase interest in materials science for under-represented students and to improve self-efficacy in undergraduate mentors through near-peer mentoring in an original materials science outreach summer camp. Overall, the camp was successful in increasing STEM knowledge and interest in STEM careers for campers and improved self-efficacy for the near-peer student mentors. This project’s correlation with and application of the Total Experience Learning instructional and learning model across disciplines and grade levels will be introduced. Specific student outcomes and assessment, workforce development in glass/ceramics and reciprocal mentoring in relationship to GaMES camp will be disucssed. |