I thought 4-H was just about Cows and Cooking?

4-H Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow International Society of Technology in Education Annual Conference, June Denver, Colorado Richard Mahacek 4-H Youth Development Advisor University of California, Cooperative Extension June 28, 2010

What is 4-H? Out-of-School programs for youth K-12 Clubs in communities Camps School Enrichment After-School and Special Interest Activities

Who is 4-H? A partnership of local state and national levels Linked to USDA The Land Grant Universities In almost every County in the nation Public and private support of staff, volunteers, and youth

Why are we here? National 4-H Initiative on Science

We are here because… National 4-H Initiative on Science highlighting existing science content developing new curriculum content creating additional partnerships specific 4-H Robotics project

Sea-Tech 4-H Club Seattle, Washington Marine science and robotics club creates underwater robots & ROVs 4-H Aerospace Camp Columbia, Missouri Astronomy and space exploration through simulators, rocket construction and GPS 4-H Tech Wizards Portland, Oregon Targets low-income Latino youth High-Quality, Local Programs

Expertise and Infrastructure Innovative Curriculum State 4-H SET Plans Research and Evaluation National Youth Science Day Professional & Volunteer Development

Leveraging Partners 4-H & Associations and Groups Curriculum development Training for 4-H staff, volunteers and youth leaders Engagement of partner members Community related activities

4-H Robotics: Engineering for Today and Tomorrow

A holistic approach of a variety of STEM experiences for youth in a 4-H setting. 4-H Robotics: Engineering for Today and Tomorrow 12

Curriculum Overview 13 Developed through a rigorous and challenging process that includes: formative evaluation, student and leader feedback, impact assessments. It is comprised of three separate tracks; each designed to meet the diverse requirements of 4‐H clubs, after‐school programs, individual youth and school enrichment activities.

Curriculum Overview (cont.) 14 Each track of the curriculum has a design team working with an instructional designer and external evaluators. Each track presents: basic physical science concepts related to robotic systems, the scientific inquiry process, the engineering design process, technology tools for learning and communications, exploration of SET careers.

Track 1: Virtual Robotics Virtual Robotics is an on-line space for individual learners to experiment with building and programming robots in a virtual environment. 15

Track 2: Junk Drawer Robotics Junk Drawer Robotics is a youth-led program that guides learners through the design, construction and testing of robots using everyday objects. 16

Track 3: Robotics Platforms Robotics Platforms is an on-line curriculum which challenges youth to apply the engineering processes of designing, building and programming robots Uses robotic kits apply what they learned in a challenge activity. 17

Track 2: Junk Drawer Robotics Junk Drawer Robotics Our development team from the University of California 4-H Program will share about how Junk Drawer Robotics is a tool to encourage young people into interest and careers in STEM areas. 18

4-H Teen Member Marcus Peck 4-H Teen Member, Kern County, Ca. Curriculum presenter Recent high school grad and declared engineering major fall 2010

4-H Teen Member Diverse groups encourage perpetual peer to peer learning Competition breeds innovation and exploration

4-H Teen Member Original thinking Sparking self motivation and a sense of pride which will perpetuate into their futures.

4-H Teen Member co-developer Spencer Downey 4-H Teen Member Merced County, Ca. County 4-H Tech Team Assisted in activity development and trainings Current high school student

4-H Teen Member co-developer What I have contributed Writing curriculum Testing project activities Stirring interest in 4-H and Robotics Holding workshops and events

4-H Teen Member co-developer Future Endeavors Opportunities to work with professors and students in Science and Engineering Provide curriculum to others and promote girls in engineering

4-H Teen Member co-developer Goals To inform people of the opportunities in STEM To get kids interested in these fields early, so they can plan for college I am becoming more interested in a major in engineering

Undergrad engineering student Daniel Leong, Student Intern Merced County, Ca. Mechanical Engineer undergrad at UC Merced SHPE Chapter Vice President

Undergrad engineering student How does it affect children Teaches design process Encourages collaborations with peers Encourage students to be creative Thinking outside of the box using material and tools

Undergrad engineering student Why is this important Preparing students to think like an engineer and scientist Students will routinely use basic technique that will become second nature

Undergrad engineering student My role in the program Developing and redesigning the curriculum Presented curriculum at different sites to a range of age groups Help encourage young minds to become engineers

Volunteer 4-H Leader Carolyn Newton, 4-H Volunteer Leader Santa Cruz County, Ca.

Volunteer 4-H Leader How 4-H Robotics works for teens How 4-H Robotics works for youth

Volunteer 4-H Leader Creative and inventive for the youth Its fun and exciting for youth

Volunteer 4-H Leader Various venues for sharing in 4-H and community

Student groups variable Ages – K – 12, Mixed age groups Dynamic groups in flux Smaller group size – 4 to 10 typical Community based non-formal youth programs

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Other parameters Self selected interest Evaluation type and amount varies Instruction activities can be led by: Non credentialed personnel Cross age teens Volunteers and others Community based non-formal youth programs

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Hands-on and Heads-on Inquiry and Experiential Learning Highlighting both the science inquiry Project based experiential learning Brings together the mind and the hands. Heads-on learning styles. Learning Cycle Exploration Sharing and Processing Generalizing and Applying Community based non-formal youth programs

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Heads-on

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4-H Science, Engineering, Technology Building America’s Workforce

Questions? 46

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