1. The Real World Design Challenge: Fostering Interest in STEM Careers
realworlddesignchallenge.org
Facilitator: Stephen Hart, GEAR UP Assistant Director
Tracy Rexroat, State Supervisor for Engineering Sciences and Industrial Technologies Education
Carmen Shugert, Mathematics/Engineering Teacher, Chandler HS, and Students from Chandler High School’s RWDC Teams

2. What is the Real World Design Challenge (RWDC)?
Run by Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC)… ● Annual competition, runs from September – April each year ● Teacher-led, mentor-assisted team of 3-7 high school students (grades 9-12) ● Work on an engineering challenge (aviation or surface) ● Teams create a “solution submission” – including a final design, design notebooks, and PPT presentations, using professional engineering software provided at no cost by PTC
● Presentations are judged by professional engineers; Arizona winner competes in national competition in Washington DC

3. The Challenge
realworlddesignchallenge.org

4. The 2013-14 Challenge (continued)
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Mission Scenario: …Research the European Corn Borer to determine how it affects corn, identify sensors that effectively identify the insect or its effects, refine a vehicle design based on those provided as part of the challenge or produce your own design, develop a search pattern of the area of interest, identify the optimal altitude for the collections based on sensor and platform performance, and the associated ground control system, analysis, and crew requirements. The goals for the design include early and accurate identification of infestations, a plan to remain within a prescribed development and operational budget, and a business case outlining and justifying the selections made.

5. The 2013-14 Challenge (continued)
RWDC In Arizona*… ● Twenty teams in Arizona registered for the Challenge, including two GEAR UP high schools => Kingman HS, Bradshaw Mountain HS (approximately 400 teams registered nationwide)
● Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University hosted a campus visit / training day for AZ’s RWDC coaches and students in January 2014
● Nine Arizona teams submitted projects for judging in March 2014, including one GEAR UP high school => Kingman HS
● Gateway Community College hosted the awards ceremony in April 2014; the winner was from Mountain View HS in Marana, AZ
*This was the third year schools in Arizona competed in RWDC

6. Call To Action For GEAR UP High Schools
Compete in the RWDC… ● Find a teacher with a passion for STEM to lead the team and recruit 3-7 students to work on the Challenge
● Understand and prepare for the technology challenges associated with installing and using PTC’s CAD software
● Consider if/how RWDC could be integrated into a classroom context
● Identify good candidate(s) in your community to mentor the team

7. The Real World Design Challenge: Fostering Interest in STEM Careers
QUESTIONS? Tracy Rexroat Anthony Coppola State Supervisor for Engineering RWDC Program Manager
Sciences and Industrial Technologies Parametric Technology Corp
1535 W. Jefferson St Fair Lakes Circle #350
Phoenix, AZ Fairfax, VA 22033
(602)