Reaching Out Reed Brockman, P.E. Public Awareness & Outreach Chair Boston Society of Civil Engineers Senior Structural Engineer DMJM Harris

overview Things to do Getting the ball rolling Things that come up Keeping the ball rolling Resources Things that have been happening out this way Things going on everywhere else (aka “Open Discussion”)

Things to do Part 1: working with students In Class Activities Speaking to classes of kids or big assemblies After-school programs Career fairs Contests Field Trips Job Shadowing Setting up a big event of your own

Things to do Part 1: working with students In Class Activities –Elementary School Level Big fan of the messy hands-on. Keep videos very short. Don’t actually prepare a PowerPoint presentation and make that the heart of your visit!

Things to do Part 1: working with students In Class Activities –Middle School Level Still a big fan of the messy hands-on. They’ve already seen way too many videos. You can get a little technical with them. Wide variety of levels of maturity and degrees of interest. They are somewhat interested in hearing about your work. The curriculum is rigid – you can’t just go to them, it needs to work with what they’re doing!

Reaching Out Reed Brockman, P.E. Public Awareness & Outreach Chair Boston Society of Civil Engineers Senior Structural Engineer DMJM Harris

Things to do Part 1: working with students In Class Activities –High School Level Some boundaries to break In many classes, afraid to start making anything. Most really don’t know what they want to do – Often like when you share personal experiences Often start cold but then ask tons of personal questions.

Reaching Out Reed Brockman, P.E. Public Awareness & Outreach Chair Boston Society of Civil Engineers Senior Structural Engineer DMJM Harris

Things to do Part 1: working with students Speaking to classes of kids or big assemblies

Things to do Part 1: working with students After-school programs (My favorite!)

Things to do Part 1: working with students Career fairs

Things to do Part 1: working with students Field Trips

Things to do Part 1: working with students Job Shadow This photo borrowed from Boeing Web Site.

Things to do Part 2: General educational help Inform Guidance Counselors about Civil Engineering Help Teachers Develop Lesson Plans Create Publications and Presentations Gather Various Outreach Organizations Help Engineers Get Started in Outreach Get Engineering included in your state core curriculum Get involved with a Science Museum

Getting the ball rolling Know what the schools are doing. It’s all a matter of dependability and trust Start small Link up with teachers’ organizations or other outreach organizations. Students don’t grow on trees. Anything during school time better work with what they are doing in school.

Things that come up “If you build it, they will come.” - - Not true. Can’t fund it. Have the money and students. Any volunteers? Just sort of didn’t see the whole thing through… “Why doesn’t anybody appreciate me?”

keeping the ball rolling Part 1: on your own end DO NOT BE AN ARMY OF ONE! Put together “How To” notebooks Get a solid core group and meet regularly Show appreciation to volunteers. Recognize sponsors or companies that give you support.

keeping the ball rolling Part 2: interaction with the teachers Talk to the teachers throughout the year. Don’t have a program hinge on one specific teacher. Encourage teachers to show appreciation: have students write articles, letters to sponsoring companies, etc. Get a yearly routine with each school and follow it.

RESOURCES!!! –“What is a Civil Engineer?” presentation –Student Contests Sites –“For Kids” link. THE TUFTS UNIVERSITY BRIDGE LIBRARY -

RESOURCES!!! Engineering Education Service Center –Books, posters, pins, engineering gifts, etc. The Pre-Engineering Portal –From games to career advice.

Things that have been happening out this way FUTURE CITY: Off to Nationals next week.

Things that have been happening out this way 12 th Annual Model Bridge Contest was last weekend

Things that have been happening out this way Ralph Salvucci Online Bridge Design Contest estimates due Valentine’s Day!

Things that have been happening out this way Ben Franklin: Back to the Future! March 2 nd, with the Museum of Science PowerUp! Program.

Things that have been happening out this way Bringing students to symposium on the Big Dig on May 8 th.

Things that have been happening out this way Trainings for engineers (with MoS Power Up and Northeastern’s Re-Seed) will continue...

Reaching Out Reed Brockman, P.E. Public Awareness & Outreach Chair Boston Society of Civil Engineers Senior Structural Engineer DMJM Harris Conclusions Things to do Getting the ball rolling Things that come up Keeping the ball rolling Resources Things that have been happening out this way Things going on everywhere else (aka “Open Discussion”)