“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

service- LEARNING Learning goals are primary; service outcomes are secondary SERVICE- learning Service outcomes are primary; learning goals are secondary service learning Service and learning goals are separate SERVICE- LEARNING Service and learning goals have equal weight; each enhances the other for all participants

 EPICS programs at 19 universities  34 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

 34 Schools Participating  Student Participants  42% Female Participants  40% 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 October 2008 show the following impact:

 10 Rural Schools  7 Suburban Schools  17 Urban Schools  30 In-school Programs  4 After-schools Programs EPICS High is creating a variety of models to replicate throughout the nation. Of the 34 existing schools, current models are:

Wastewater diversion “green” field maintenance project Project Overview Use, up to now, discarded Department of Public Works water treatment plant, filter rinse water to:  Irrigate community & school ball fields  Establish school based experimental garden  Establish school based experimental aquaculture program to raise and release indigenous fish species in 2 local waterways  collect, refine and correlate learning objectives for subprojects listed above

Guidance Department ESL Assistant Software  Computers give welcome message and common task menu for Hispanic speakers entering McCutcheon  Main menu allows parent/student to select from options – enrollment, withdrawal, questions commonly asked  Completed computerized forms then revert to English for counselors/school use

 114 Seniors participating in semester long program List of Project Underway:  Recyclable materials storage unit  Modular back drop system  Custom stage stairs for animals  Light writer pendulum  Ball return system for a gravity well  Mobil art cart  Fish pin cover system  Sign storage and transportation cart  Custom sports equipment rack  Climbing tree structure 15 projects have already been delivered by High Tech High affecting an estimated 1650 people Raptor Cage Motorized Copy Holder

Projects Underway in 3 Areas Bioengineering: Aquaponics Tank in Harlem Senior Center Environmental Engineering: Design water quality sampling station for the East River Robotics: High school students are using their robotics program to work with middle and elementary age students in a mentoring program In Addition: Developing a system for students to partner with elementary school teachers and create projects to help them teach science The Frederick Douglass Academy

Pacific Ridge School Campus Stewardship Project  Recycling auditing/setup/maintenance  Worm bin setup/maintenance (food composting)  Designed and constructed athletic equipment storage box, garden equipment storage shed, and field-side benches  Designed and planted PRS garden (using worm compost) Elementary School Outreach Project  Formed partnership with local elementary school  Performed recycling/trash audit  Educating students on basics of recycling  Implementing school-wide recycling plan Project Green  Partner with regional restaurant chain for the purpose of helping them ‘go green’  Analyzing customer survey data

 Computerized Food Pantry Inventory Project Students are working with all food pantries in county to sep up a computerized inventory system for tracking food items and customer information

Leo Club  Storm drain marking  Specialized dog bowls for non-profit organization  Make Lions Club Eye Mobile handicap accessible  Design of school IDs Science Classes  Storm drain marking  Design and construction of storm drain stencils  Rapid stream bioassessment  Design of rain gardens  Develop water conservation educational materials  Salmon rearing and release project

 Still in draft format  Designed for flexibility  Great deal of input from EPICS High teachers  Consists of the following 5 modules that address 1 central topic per week: 1. Design 2. Service Learning 3. Cultural Context and Ethics 4. Teamwork 5. Communication Listed in the curriculum are 3 sections with each module that state learning objectives, national academic standards, and 45 lesson plans 

Assessment of the EPICS High program currently consists of: ◦ Site Visits ◦ Bi-Annual Progress Reports ◦ Student Surveys – Pre, Post and Senior ◦ Survey by Community Partners ◦ More Detailed Research Component Coming Soon!  Evaluation of the summer teacher trainings by participants

- 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