“High Schools Improving Lives with Engineering Projects in Community Service-Learning” Serve Explore Prepare Design Succeed Grow Pamela Turner EPICS High School Program Coordinator Purdue University

 Service – students participate in service for the underserved in a community  Academically-based – reinforces or connects with the subject material of the academic course  Reciprocity – Mutual needs, mutual learning  Reflection (Analysis, metacognition) – Students reflect (analyze) on their experience and learning

 Design Using Service Learning  Diverse Student Participation  Various Partnerships  Institutional Commitment  Student Driven  Customer/Project Partner Focus

 EPICS programs at 19 universities  35 High schools in five states ◦ California, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York

 While interest in engineering is declining, civic engagement among teenagers is high  83% of high school seniors entering college participated in community service or service- learning ◦ Female and minority students more inclined to continue service ◦ Many honors diplomas require service  Service-learning in high schools rarely connected with engineering/science/math  EPICS provides an opportunity to tap into this wave of volunteerism

 35 Schools Participating  Student Participants  41% Female Participants  34% Underrepresented Participants  Over 50% in Free & Reduced Lunch Programs Included in the mission of the EPICS High program is outreach to underrepresented populations. Reports from schools in April 2009 show the following impact:

 10 Rural Schools  7 Suburban Schools  18 Urban Schools  31 In-school Programs  4 After-schools Programs EPICS High is creating a variety of models to replicate throughout the nation. Of the 35 existing schools, current models are:

Currently a 2 week summer program STARS Leadership Summer Summit:  Students apply to take part in free program  Combines students from all over the city  Environmental project focus  Mentoring by university students  Begin by learning fundamentals of engineering (EPICS High Curriculum!)

Elective within the school and after school Project: Portable exhibit for local science museum  Focused on building green exhibits Project: Green Technologies  Using thermal imaging to conduct energy audits of low income houses  Constructing insulation out of recycled materials  Incorporating green technologies for the middle school

In school day (core curriculum) Project: Community Holiday Lights Display  Students Designed and built large outdoor drive-thru community light display  Computerized music to lights  People tune into light display music on radio station Project: Local Non-Profit Office Design  Local non-profit was given office space by city and students are designing the office layout – other projects are expected to follow with this agency

 1. EPICS High is now on Facebook! Student group Teachers group  2. New EPICS High Website!  3. Surveys and reports both on-line  4. Plans underway for web training sessions  5. More online curriculum and resources

Two times per year EPICS High Request that Bi-Annual Reports be completed on Survey monkey  Project Info  Demographics & Numbers  Needs  Pictures Also on Survey Monkey students are asked to complete surveys  One upon starting into the program  One upon leaving EPICS  If they are graduating seniors, they are also asked to complete a senior survey

- 13 out of 15 schools participated in the surveying EPICS students particpating in the15 schools - 40% student response to survey

EPICS has the potential to play a role in addressing many current issues including:  Declining interest in Engineering/Computing  Continued underrepresentation of women and minorities  Drop out rates  Improving STEM education  Global competitiveness  Building capacity in communities and schools  Compelling needs of underserved populations

EPICS High continues to bring together the resources for a large-scale national roll-out. Due to the success and overwhelming interest in the program, long-term plans have been accelerated. Plans for growth include:  More Schools!!  Securing funding to set up regional training centers  Formal patnerships with professional societies  Engaging state Service-Learning representatives  Training of regional trainers  2009 Learn and Serve America follow-on grant  Establishing Teacher Fellows program  Building Web Tools and Resources NEW – Find us on Facebook!

The Time is Now...Changing the Equation Prepare Explore Serve