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One Day TEAMS Exploration Program for Sophomores
Stay tuned for the latest information on the 2007 TEAMS Exploration Program coming this fall! Last fall 270 sophomores attended the TEAMS Exploration Program—a series of one day field trips where students can interact with faculty and high schools teachers in 90-minute workshops designed to test TEAMS course concepts. This one day program is an excellent opportunity for student to explore science, technology, engineering and math career fields in a high quality technological university setting. Last year six teams, comprised of university and high school faculty, developed workshops to prototype course concepts and allow students to experience the hands-on nature of the program. Students were given the opportunity to work with peers from other schools in small groups just as they will in the Academy. Our exit surveys indicated that students generally had a more positive outlook on STEM career opportunities after attending this introductory program. Last Year’s Exploration Topics During the Interactive Robotics sessions, students worked collaboratively to answer the question, “Can you design and build a robot to successfully conduct a specific task?” Working in groups of three to five, students designed, built, programmed, and tested their robot’s ability to perform a specific function, such as assisting a person with limited upper mobility. Students also explored use of robots designed for urban search and rescue (USAR). Marcia Burns, Bedford Sports engineering involves the application of physics to the design and scientific evaluation of the equipment used in sports. By investigating and applying physics concepts to baseball and softball equipment during the Bat Engineering Design sessions, students learned how bats are certified to be approved for use by high school and NCAA players. In order to apply a combination of science, engineering, experimental, and analytic skills, students collected data and used statistics techniques to test bat properties and performances and learned how these skills can be applied to make a bat have a desired hitting performance. Students left the sessions with a better understanding of how the field of mechanical engineering can be applied to real life, and with the ability to think critically about how to choose a bat for maximum hitting potential.
Did you know that more than 50,000,000 Americans have some type of disability? Engineers and scientists use their talents to help disabled people adapt to their environments in many ways, and students can use their creativity and ability to think outside the box to explore solutions to these issues. Suppose a friend injured her hand and can’t turn on her fan on a hot day? In the Assistive Technology sessions, students brainstormed design ideas then built alternative means to control a fan. Can their solutions control other devices? How many ways can students solve this problem? Students brought home their creations. Can the sun really cook your food? During Alternative Energy sessions, students answered this question by designing, building, and testing their own solar ovens. Students held a competition to determine which design could melt a bar of chocolate most quickly. Students investigated the elements that contribute to the most effective design, and explored the uses of solar and other renewable forms of energy around the world. CSI sessions introduced students to the science behind the popular television shows dealing with this topic. Students were learned how scientists isolate and manipulate DNA and analyze specific regions of a genome to “genotype” the DNA sample. Students extracted DNA from cells and then used a process known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to analyze specific regions of the DNA. The DNA was examined using Gel Electrophoresis, and these techniques were used to solve a “classroom crime”. Additionally, students engaged in discussions concerning the ethical issues and societal impact of DNA biotechnology as it relates to topics like health care and crime scene investigation. What are the uses of probability and statistics outside of Las Vegas? During math modeling sessions, students explored how the tools of probability and statistics help mathematicians, scientists, and engineers explain the imprecise world in which we live. Students explored these tools beyond traditional classroom examples and games of chance by exploring these three questions:
Annmarie Hurley, UML
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