Engage in the Future: Engineering Workshop (Beaver, PA)

Join ASSET STEM Education and SAE International for an in-depth professional learning program to bring STEM education to life. During this two-day workshop, educators in Pre-K through grade 8 will discuss ways to integrate engineering design and inquiry-based teaching into the classroom and preview hands-on activities from SAE International’s A World in Motion® (AWIM) program.

WORKSHOP INCLUDES

FOUNDATIONS OF ENGINEERING COURSE (all grade levels): Discuss what it means to teach engineering intentionally at all grade levels & make connections using a cross-curriculum learning approach.

BREAKOUT GROUPS TO PREVIEW SAE’S AWIM CHALLENGES:

• Rolling Things (Pre-K through Grade 1): In the Rolling Things Challenge, students explore how changing the ramp height and vehicle weight affect the momentum of toy cars. Ramp height affects the velocity of the car when it strikes the crash box-the greater the height of the ramp, the greater the velocity of the car when it reaches the bottom of the ramp. Concepts covered in this unit include gravity, potential and kinetic energy, friction, momentum, mass, velocity and acceleration.

• Pinball (Grades 2-3): In the Pinball Designer Challenge, students build, test and modify a non-electronic pinball machine to create a toy that meets certain specifications. Concepts covered in this unit include gravity, potential and kinetic energy and inclined planes.

• Gravity Cruiser (Grades 4-5): Student teams design and construct a vehicle that is powered by gravity. A weighted lever connected to an axle by string rotates on its fulcrum; as the weight descends it causes the axle attached to the string to rotate, propelling the cruiser forward. Concepts explored include potential and kinetic energy, friction, inertia, momentum, diameter, circumference, measurement, graphing, and constructing a prototype.

• Glider Challenge (Grade 6-8): Students explore the relationship between force and motion and the effects of weight and lift on a glider. Students learn the relationships between data analysis and variable manipulations, and the importance of understanding consumer demands. The glider activity culminates in a book-signing event where each design team presents its prototype and the class presents its manuscripts to Mobility Press "representatives" and members of the local community.

• Cybersecurity (Grades 6-8): Students explore a number of physical models that simulate the movement of information through the internet; they identify problems with each model and test different enhancements to help make the network operate better and faster. After learning about these important attributes of cybersecurity, students work in teams to create marketing materials to help the target audience feel more comfortable and confident about Internet security.

FACILITY TOUR: Aviation Science Center in Beaver