STEM Class and Science Clubs

for Middle School Students

Mariela Resendez

Arizona State University

Roxanna Montoya—Mentor

Outline

Introduction Background

Methods Results

Discussion Conclusion

Future Work Closing Questions Lowell Future City

Model: #5

Introduction

Middle school students’ involvement with Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)

Students participate in Future City and MESA Program

Outreach– volunteer, teach or mentor

Background

Student involvement aside math & science classes

Introduced to engineering Team building Problem-Solving on a bigger scale Engineering Design Process

Lowell Elementary (6-8 grade) Future City Math, Engineering and Science

Achievement (MESA)

Project Pictures

Lowell Team #2 Brainstorm

Lowell Team #3 City Planning

Pictures Cont.

Lowell Team #5 Lowell Teams #2 &#3

Pictures Cont.

Lowell Future City Mentors

Methods

Data Collection Surveys

DemographicsGenderGrade Level

Example of Survey

Future City Project Approach National Competition Student’s Approach

Learn about cities Brainstorm & design Build City on SimCity® Design and Build Model

6 Teams of 7&8th Grade Students Kept design notebooks

MESA Project (Math, Engineering and Science Achievement)

After-School Based 5 teams

Roller Coaster Team

Cooling Hat Team

Hydropower Challenge

Engineering Design Challenge

Air Rocket Team

All teams track changes on notebooks

Diversity in STEM Class and Science Class Female to Male Ratio

Grade Level:

6th 7th 8th

# of Participants

8 9 12

Total Number of Participants

Female

Male

Results

Project Results

Lowell Team #1 City Model

Results Cont.

Lowell Team #2 City Model Lowell Team #3 City

Model

Results Cont.

Lowell Team #4 City Model

Results Cont.

Lowell Team #5 City Model

Lowell Team #6 City Model

Discussion

Students able to engineer projects Designed, built and maintained cities Not able to attend competition STEM Class moved to after school

science club MESA teams are formulated with

different students Competition is April 12th

Conclusion

Students enjoy hands-on projects Students are happy to compete

academically More exposure, more involvement

More exposure leads to talent discovery

Mentors are impactful Higher education

Future Work

Create a solid curriculum for after school program Similar to that of the STEM Class

Enhance the Engineering Design Process

Develop more projects for Fall aside from Future City

Is exposure at a young age a deciding factor? Further research needed

Target other schools in different part of the valley with same project See whether interest rises in same grade in

another part of valley

Thank you,Questions?