Reaching Out Reed Brockman, P.E. Public Awareness & Outreach Chair Boston Society of Civil Engineers...

Reaching Reaching OutOut

Reed Brockman, P.E.Reed Brockman, P.E.

Public Awareness & Outreach ChairPublic Awareness & Outreach ChairBoston Society of Civil EngineersBoston Society of Civil Engineers

Senior Structural EngineerSenior Structural EngineerDMJM HarrisDMJM 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 doPart 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


• 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!


• 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!


• 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.


• Speaking to classes of kids or big assemblies


• After-school programs (My favorite!)


• Career fairs


• Field Trips


• Job Shadow

This photo borrowed from Boeing Web Site.

Things to doPart 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 rollingPart 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.

http://www.dmjmharris.com/

keeping the ball rollingPart 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.

http://www.dmjmharris.com/

RESOURCES!!!• WWW.BSCES.ORG

– “What is a Civil Engineer?” presentation

– Student Contests Sites

• WWW.ENGINEERS.ORG– “For Kids” link.

• THE TUFTS UNIVERSITY BRIDGE LIBRARY - www.ceeo.tufts.edu/etc/bridge/

RESOURCES!!!• Engineering Education Service

Center www.engineeringedu.com– Books, posters, pins, engineering

gifts, etc.

• The Pre-Engineering Portal www.engineerinyou.com– From games to career advice.

Things that have been happening out this way

• FUTURE CITY: Off to Nationals next week.


• 12th Annual Model Bridge Contest was last weekend


• Ralph Salvucci Online Bridge Design Contest estimates due Valentine’s Day!


• Ben Franklin: Back to the Future! March 2nd, with the Museum of Science PowerUp! Program.


• Bringing students to symposium on the Big Dig on May 8th.


• Trainings for engineers (with MoS Power Up and Northeastern’s Re-Seed) will continue...





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”)

Reaching Out Reed Brockman, P.E. Public Awareness & Outreach Chair Boston Society of Civil Engineers...

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