1 IEEE Activities in Pre University Education Moshe Kam IEEE Educational Activities March 2006

2 A Few Words about IEEE l IEEE is the largest professional engineering association in the world l 367,000 members in 150 countries l A 501(c)3 organization in incorporated in New York l Originally concentrating on power engineering and communications IEEE at present spans technical interests across the spectrum of technology l From nanotechnology to oceanic engineering l In many respects IEEE has become “the steward of Engineering”

3 What is IEEE? l A membership organization l A major creator and guardian of technical IP l A mechanism to bring people of common technical interests together l both geographically and disciplinarily l A guardian of the future of Engineering l An implementer of technology-related public Imperatives

4 What is IEEE? l A membership organization l A major creator and guardian of technical IP l A mechanism to bring people of common technical interests together l both geographically and disciplinarily l A guardian of the future of Engineering l An implementer of technology-related public Imperatives

5 Why is IEEE interested in pre- university engineering education l Because it is in our stated and un-stated mission l Because in many IEEE Sections there is marked decline in the interest of young people in Engineering l This is bad for the future of these communities and would have a negative impact on their standard of living l Because we do not believe the problem is going to be tackled effectively without us l Industry does not appear to be able to address the problem directly l Governments do not appear sufficiently concerned (yet) l Other engineering associations look up to us

6 Who inside IEEE is active in this area? l The IEEE Educational Activities Board (EAB) l The IEEE Regional Activities Board (RAB) l IEEE-USA

7 IEEE’s Pre-University Initiative l New Initiative l “Launching Our Children’s Path to Engineering” l Objectives l Increase the propensity of young people worldwide to select Engineering as a career path l Build a sustained public awareness program, led by IEEE, with broad support of corporations and professional associations

8 Objective 1: Engineering in the classroom l Institutionalization of IEEE Teacher In Service Program l IEEE Section engineers develop and present technology-oriented projects to local pre-university educators l Emphasis on volunteer-teacher interaction as opposed to volunteer-student interaction l Ideally: a sustained program involving several thousand schools every year

9 Objective 2: Engineering Associations, Unite! l Center for Pre-University Engineering Education l A multi-association organization l With partners such as ASCE, ASME, IEE, SEE l It is about ENGINEERING, not Electrical Engineering l Ideally: the resource of choice for pre-university cooperation with Engineering Associations

10 Objective 2: Engineering Associations, Unite! l Center for Pre-University Engineering Education l A multi-association organization l With partners such as ASCE, ASME, IEE, SEE l It is about ENGINEERING, not Electrical Engineering l Ideally: the resource of choice for pre-university cooperation with Engineering Associations l If we cannot achieve unity we should document the failure and conclude that we are alone to lead the field.

11 Objective 3: Strong On-line presence l New on-line portals for students, teachers, school counselors, and parents l Educational and entertaining l Focused on the audience l From lesson plans for teachers to games for children l Ideally: the premier on-line resource on engineering for pre-university students

12 The Teacher In Service Program l IEEE Section engineers develop and present technology-oriented projects to local pre- university educators l Started at the Florida West Coast Section in 2001 l Lesson plans in English and Spanish for teachers and engineers l Lesson plans matched to educational standards

13 The Teacher In Service Program l IEEE Section engineers develop and present technology-oriented projects to local pre- university educators l Started at the Florida West Coast Section in 2001 l Lesson plans in English and Spanish for teachers and engineers l Lesson plans matched to educational standards

14 Rotational Equilibrium: A Question of Balance Demonstrate the concept of rotational equilibrium, by building and testing a Mobile

15 Build working models with household items

16 What have we done in 2005? l Pilot study in Region 3 l 65 participants, from 23 Sections, in Atlanta, GA l Whole day workshop on lessons, association with educational standards and working with schools l Plus half a day of a simulated TISP session l Feedback: multiple groups organizing training sessions in Southeastern US and Jamaica

17 Atlanta, 22 July 2005

18 What has happened since?

19 Central North Carolina Section l Performed a TISP presentation to eight (8) Science Teacher Chairs in November 2005 l Gave a TISP presentation to high school Science Club students on 8 February 2006 l Made another TISP presentation on 15 February to 12 High and Middle school teachers l Have a meeting scheduled to speak with Middle School Teacher Chairs in March 2006 l Have 12 local engineers/volunteers committed to TISP l Founded a TISP steering committee for the Section

20 Central North Carolina Section TISP event

21 Atlanta Section l Held a TISP workshop on 7 November 2005 at Marietta Center for Advanced Academics l Presented an overview of TISP at a teacher workshop on 11 February 2006 l Currently working with a high school teacher to develop hands-on activities for Algebra 1 to show examples of how Algebra is applied in engineering l Working with a local parent to develop new TISP lesson plans l Presenting a TISP workshop to Marietta Center for Advanced Academics (a magnet school for grades 3-5) on 20 February l Presenting TISP modules at the Morningside Elementary Family Science Night on 23 February

22 Additional impact in Region 3 Florida West Coast Section l Will hold a high school TISP presentation on 19 April l motor controllers l Will hold a TISP presentation at the University of Central Florida on April 28 Mississippi Section l Plans a TISP presentation for summer 2006 at a teacher workshop conducted at Mississippi State University l "Introduction to Engineering for Teachers and Counselors"

23 What are we doing in 2006? l Expand to l Region 1 (Boston, MA) l Region 4 (Indianapolis, IN) l Region 8 (South Africa) l Region 10 (Australia, Malaysia)

24 What are we doing in 2006? l Expand to l Region 1 (Boston, MA) l Region 4 (Indianapolis, IN) l Region 8 (South Africa) RAB l Region 10 (Australia, Malaysia) RAB IEEE-USA

25 What are we doing in 2006? l Expanding to Industry l Lockheed Martin is the first participant l Ask IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB) to develop new lesson plans

26 What will we do in 2007? l Expand to l Region 2 (Baltimore) l Region 6 (Los Angeles) l Region 9 (Argentina) l Region 10 (Hong Kong)

27 On Line Portal Tryengineering.org

28 The Web provides us with high potential for reachability l A successful portal can become a major resource for students, parents, school counselors, and teachers l But success is difficult in an ever-crowded medium l Effort needs to be coupled with more modern tools l Instant messaging, podcasts

29 What information is needed on line? l We met with school counselors and Engineering Associations l Need on line tools for identifying formal and informal engineering education opportunities l Engineering associations agreed to participate l Discussions with ACM, AIChE, AIAA, ASME, ASCE, IEE, JETS, SAE, SEE, Sloane Career Cornerstone Center

30 What information is available on line? l We conducted a comprehensive review of engineering education resources l By EAB and consultants l Conclusions: l Many “Engineering Resources” are actually focusing on Science and Mathematics l Resources for teachers are largely inadequate l Wrong message is sent about the nature of engineering and the life of engineers

31 From Collegeboard.com: Law It helps to be…Are you ready to… fascinated by the relationship between law and society engage in intense discussion of thorny legal problems ?

32 From Collegeboard.com: Broadcast Journalism It helps to be…Are you ready to… sharp of mind and quick of tongue learn how to find and interview sources?

33 From Collegeboard.com: Computer Engineering It helps to be…Are you ready to…

34 From Collegeboard.com: Computer Engineering It helps to be…Are you ready to… ready to spend hours solving problems on your own

35 From Collegeboard.com: Computer Engineering It helps to be…Are you ready to… ready to spend hours solving problems on your own spend lots of time solving tough math problems?

36 Good existing model l Tryscience.org l “Your gateway to experience the excitement of contemporary science and technology through on and offline interactivity with science and technology centers worldwide.” l Science is exciting, and it's for everyone! l Partnership between l IBM l the New York Hall of Science l the Association of Science-Technology Centers l Science centers worldwide

37 Next step – tryengineering.org l Companion site to tryscience.org l Comprehensive l Ultimate Audience: young people ages 9-18 l Designed to convey excitement about engineering and design l Can-do attitude l Hands-on experience l Positive image of the engineering process and engineering l “Discover the creative engineer in you”

38 Tryengineering.org A portal for students, parents, school counselors and teachers School search By location, program, environment Day in the life of an engineer Hands-on and virtual projects Class plans for teaching engineering design Ask an engineer Brought to you by SAE Ask a student Brought to you by JETS GamesSummer camps, internship opportunities

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41 Unique features l School search l Ask an Engineer l To be managed by SAE l Ask a Student l To be managed by JETS

42 The objectives l Engineering in the classroom l Engineering associations, unite! l Strong on-line presence l … and many thanks to our IEEE partners: l RAB l IEEE-USA l IEEE Corporate Communications l M. Loeb, E.Gerstmann

43 Our partners l The IEEE Foundation l United Engineering Foundation l ASME l ASCE l National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) l American School Counselor Association (ASCA) l IBM and the New York Hall of Science l National Academy of Engineering

44 Questions and Comments