Promoting Science And Engineering In Grades K 12 By Means Of A Summer Workshop A Universal Model

During the summer of 2003, the Computer Science and Engineering Departments arranged and coordinated two one-week workshops for middle-school children. These workshops provided a wide variety of Science and Engineering-related lectures and activities. The activities were diverse, such as; experimenting with concrete and failure in compression, assembling electronic circuits, building and programming robots, working with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), learning the binary numbering system and using surveying equipment as well as several other activities. The intention of the workshop was to promote science and engineering at an early age. However many additional benefits were achieved; some of which include: 1. Introducing the participants to the college environment 2. Providing a social atmosphere of teamwork 3. Giving the participants an educational and enjoyable week during their summer break 4. Providing the parents of the participants the opportunity to visit the campus, view the Computer Science and Engineering laboratories, and meet the science and engineering faculty / staff. Studies have shown that there is a high probability that the United States will have a significant shortage of scientists and engineers within the next ten years and beyond. In the state of Utah, Governor Leavitt has declared an Engineering Initiative whereby a goal was established P ge 9.029.1 Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2004, American Society for Engineering Education to double the number of engineering graduates in five years and triple the number in eight years. Because of the above trend and the Governor’s initiative, the Computer Science and Engineering Departments at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) are working diligently to enroll more students in Science and Engineering programs. This was the incentive to offer such a workshop. This paper will outline the steps that were taken to arrange and coordinate the workshop. It will include details of how activities were selected and prepared, how the workshop was promoted to the appropriate audience, how the participants were kept interested throughout each session, and how parents of the participants were kept informed. Successes and challenges of our workshop experience will be discussed and future possibilities described. This type of workshop could be used as a universal model to stimulate interest in science and engineering amongst children in grades K-12.