Exciting Children About Engineering Through Interactive Exploration Of Brid...


Panel/Workshop:	Concurrent Session
Paper Title:	Exciting Children About Engineering Through Interactive Exploration Of Bridges And Dams
Date & Time:	06/11/03 09:45
Abstract:	K-12 outreach programs commonly face difficulties in attracting adequate staffing and financial support. This paper discusses curriculum and materials developed to facilitate engineering outreach visits to 2nd and 3rd graders in Montana. The program involves two-hour hands-on workshops that explore bridge and dam design to excite children about engineering and to emphasize the real world connectivity of science and math. The evolution of the program since its inception offers a good case study for creating, funding, and sustaining K-12 outreach programs. The bridges and dams program has successfully attracted government, private foundation, and private sector financial support as well as human resource assistance from university staff and students as well as professional engineers. Index Terms ¾ funding, K-12 outreach, recruitment, retention.
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