ST1.11 Students are supported in their STEM learning through adult-world connections and extended day opportunities.
Response:
Our business partners bring real world connections to the STEM curriculum. The business partners assist our students with learning that extends beyond the school day. Our business partners provide assistance with our STEM competition teams and offer vital insight to improve academic outcomes.
Narrative:
McNair STEM Academy students participate in a variety of clubs, programs and competitions that challenge our students to think critically and work collaboratively to achieve success. Three of our programs are featured below:
Science Olympiad :This competition is devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments. Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of team events, which students prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology.
SeaPerch : SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program sponsored by the U.S. Navy. This program equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering, science concepts, problem solving, teamwork, technical applications, and tool safety with a marine engineering theme. This program’s focus is middle and high school students, McNair DLA is one of a few elementary schools to participate and be competitive. SeaPerch also provides our students exposure to many exciting careers.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology) Lego League Robotics: McNair DLA is rapidly becoming one of the top FIRST teams in Georgia that can apply science, engineering and math concepts, plus a big dose of imagination, to develop solutions to real-world challenges. Students design, build, and program Lego Mindstorms robots to perform autonomous “missions” on a playing field. Along the way, they develop critical thinking, team-building, and presentation skills. Our students earned 1st Place in Gracious Professionalism during our first year of participation and continue to strive for the top position.
Future Engineers of America (FEA); This is a newly established club and McNair DLA where we promote STEM through Aviation. FEA is a structured after-school program that integrates orienteering, process skills, aviation careers and the history of flight. Students explore the Forces of Motion by designing, constructing and testing a variety of flying machines. This program culminates with students learning to fly an airplane using a state-of –the –art flight simulator.
Science Olympiad :This competition is devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments. Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of team events, which students prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology.
SeaPerch : SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program sponsored by the U.S. Navy. This program equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering, science concepts, problem solving, teamwork, technical applications, and tool safety with a marine engineering theme. This program’s focus is middle and high school students, McNair DLA is one of a few elementary schools to participate and be competitive. SeaPerch also provides our students exposure to many exciting careers.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology) Lego League Robotics: McNair DLA is rapidly becoming one of the top FIRST teams in Georgia that can apply science, engineering and math concepts, plus a big dose of imagination, to develop solutions to real-world challenges. Students design, build, and program Lego Mindstorms robots to perform autonomous “missions” on a playing field. Along the way, they develop critical thinking, team-building, and presentation skills. Our students earned 1st Place in Gracious Professionalism during our first year of participation and continue to strive for the top position.
Future Engineers of America (FEA); This is a newly established club and McNair DLA where we promote STEM through Aviation. FEA is a structured after-school program that integrates orienteering, process skills, aviation careers and the history of flight. Students explore the Forces of Motion by designing, constructing and testing a variety of flying machines. This program culminates with students learning to fly an airplane using a state-of –the –art flight simulator.
Strengths:
As a result of our phenomenal program, we were given an opportunity to partner with the Navy and compete in the SeaPerch Program. This program’s focus is middle and high school students, McNair DLA is one of a few elementary schools to participate and be competitive. SeaPerch also provides our students exposure to many exciting careers. We were also the recipients of a summer STEM grant. During the summer of 2014 and 2015, our students had the opportunity to participate in Camp Invention. Camp invention is a nationally recognized non-profit elementary STEM enrichment program that is supported by the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The success of the program was highlighted in the DeKalb County Champion Newspaper. Teachers at Ronald E. McNair have been trained to effectively provide this intense engineering program to our students. We have already discussed bringing the program back for year three with our team of committed business partners.
Weaknesses:
We have to improve the number of apprenticeship, internship, research, and job shadowing programs for our students. Many of the business partners have stated they do not offer such programs for elementary school students. Our plan is to continue to market the importance of these programs to additional businesses and create urgency from the business community.
Evidence:
2014 - 2015 Competitions and Placements
2015 - 2016 Competitions and Placements
Student Experiences with Business Partners
Classroom Presenters
Danielle Bunche, Newnan Wetlands Center
Antonio Vicens, Lockheed Martin C-130J Programs
Jasmyn N Johnson (graduate of SW Dekalb HS), Lochkeed Martin Aircraft Maintenance Support Engineer, C-130 Technical Publications
Ryan Cox, CEO of Hatponics
Captian Barrington Irving, CEO of the Flying Classroom
Hank Stewart, Hank Stewart Foundation
Danielle Bunche, Newnan Wetlands Center
Antonio Vicens, Lockheed Martin C-130J Programs
Jasmyn N Johnson (graduate of SW Dekalb HS), Lochkeed Martin Aircraft Maintenance Support Engineer, C-130 Technical Publications
Ryan Cox, CEO of Hatponics
Captian Barrington Irving, CEO of the Flying Classroom
Hank Stewart, Hank Stewart Foundation
STEM Expo with Captain Barrington Irving Robotic Explorers Experience
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Extra-curricular Activites
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5th_annual_100_classic_robotics_showcase.pdf | |
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robotic_explorers.pdf | |
File Size: | 1078 kb |
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2016 U.S. Space and Rocket Center