Gordon Scholars K-12 Outreach Opportunities

This list is a sampling of K-12 Outreach Opportunities that were available to Gordon Scholars for the Spring 2012 semester. We will continuously be updating this page with events and opportunities as we learn about them. You can also find more information on the Center for STEM Education Blog at stemcenterk-12outreach.blogspot.com.

Gordon Scholars are asked to complete twenty hours of work related to either research or K-12Outreach activities during their spring semester.

Examples of Past One-Day STEM Opportunities on Campus

Building Bridges - 2/4/12: Volunteers helped supervise activities during a high school bridge-building competition.

BESS Pre-College Initiative Day - 2/17/12: Volunteers helped lead and supervise groups of Boston 10th and 11th grade students learning about engineering and college life.

Boston Public School Science Fair - 3/9/12: Volunteers helped run sign-in tables, facilitated lunch, and supervised activities.

Examples of On-going STEM Opportunities

Alternate Energy Vehicles: Teach engineering and design principles through Alternate Energy Vehicles. Every week after school, from 3:30-5:00pm work with a group of about 15 middle school students, help introduce engineering challenges with design and problem solving. The students build their own vehicle (i.e. hover crafts, air powered cars, rubber band cars, and cars of their own design). At the end, they demonstrate their cars and show what they have learned. It's a great opportunity to inspire students to look at engineering. This is a weekly commitment led by faculty member Sue Freeman. Please contact Sue at s.freeman@neu.edu if you are interested in participating.

Lego Robotics Club: Work with a group of youth at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club that are designing a Lego robot to enter a competition. They meet Mondays from 6:00-8:00pm. The robot used Lego Mindstorm kits, a simple programming language. There are several students already involved, but they are looking for a few more who can help! Please contact Sue Freeman at s.freeman@neu.edu if you are interested in participating.

WGBH Time to Invent Club: An afterschool club new to the Curley K-8 School (in JP, off the 39 bus) this year the Time to Invent club, is a team of afterschool staff and mentors (professionals and college students with backgrounds in science and engineering). Mentors lead activities and introduce kids to invention and technical careers based on pre-set curriculum. The program will run in the spring semester for one afternoon each week. To learn more about a Time to Invent club, go to the Overview page http://timetoinvent.wordpress.com/overview/, or contact Lauren Horn at l.horn@neu.edu.

Engineering Field Trips: The Center for STEM Education runs on-campus engineering field trips for Boston students grades 4-6. Our hands-on field trips cover topics such as renewable energy, biomechanics, river pollution and rockets. We need a few extra hands on deck for our upcoming field trips this semester. Volunteers are welcome to join us for all or part of the field trips, working in small groups asking students questions about what they're learning and making sure they understand the activity and related concepts, and supervising lunch time. Program Dates: January 20th, February 3rd and 17th, March 2nd, 23th, and 30th 2012. For more information, contact Lauren Horn at l.horn@neu.edu

Science Classroom: Volunteers are needed to help a Curley School (in JP off the 39 bus) elementary science teacher facilitate her lessons during school time. You will help her prep materials, work with students in small groups and participate in delivering some of the lessons. Times and days are flexible, and can be worked out with the teacher. For more information, contact Lauren Horn at l.horn@neu.edu

Citizen Schools: Citizen Schools partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for low-income children across the country. They use a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and "apprenticeships"- hands-on learning activities taught by volunteers. There are approximately 15 middle school students in 6,7, or 8th grade, all eager to learn! Volunteers teach STEM activities for 90 minutes each week for 12 weeks on a weekday afternoon in the fall or spring, which culminates in a presentation. Located at Orchard Gardens K-8, a 15 minute walk from campus. For more information, contact Lauren Horn at l.horn@neu.edu

TORCH Technology Workshops: The Black Engineering Student Society is asking students to teach both youth and adults the basics of corporate computer skills, such as Word, Power Point, Excel. Learn more about volunteering with TORCH here: TORCH Technology Workshops, or contact Melanie Smith at m.smith@neu.edu.

Science Ambassador: The Hurley K-8 School is looking for undergraduate and graduate students to volunteer their time to teach and mentor science classes for grades 4-8. Help Boston Public Schools students see college in their future and connect them with science and engineering at a young age. All student volunteers are welcome, but Spanish speaking students are encouraged to apply! For more information on how to get involved, contact Melanie Smith at m.smith@neu.edu.

Center activities are designed to be interesting and accessible to all Gordon-CenSSIS students, including first-year undergraduates.

Participants

• Gordon Scholars 2012/2013
  - Jacob Barlow, Chemical Engineering - Billy Blanco, Chemical Engineering
  - Izaak Branch, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  - Jake Burrell, Chemical Engineering
  - Lauren Cosenza, Electrical Engineering
  - Jenna Czeck, Computer Engineering
  - Nathan Dunn, Mechanical Engineering
  - Kristen Kelly, Chemical Engineering
  - Ze'ev Klapow, Mechanical Engineering
  - Emily Korot, Civil Engineering
  - Joshua Levin, Mechanical Engineering
  - Robyn McInnis, Mechanical Engineering
  - Leah Okrainsky, Engineering Undecided
  - Sara Rauwolf, Engineering Undecided
  - Navid Seyedmahmoud, Computer Engineering
  - Rachel Shaffer, Engineering Undecided
  - Janna Shaftan, Chemical and Computer Engineering
  - Benjamin Soper, Computer Engineering
  - Matthew Tivnan, Electrical Engineering
  - Alyssa Travitz, Chemical Engineering
  - Yufeng Wang, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  - Mitchel White, Engineering Undecided

• Gordon Mentors 2012/2013
  - Paula Arambel, Mechanical Engineering
  - Patrick Clerkin, Mechanical Engineering
  - Meghan Debski, Civil Engineering
  - Nicholas Esposito, Mechanical Engineering
  - Bea van den Heuvel, Industrial Engineering
  - Lisa Hofgesang, Civil Engineering
  - Jacob Holstein, Mechanical Engineering
  - Logan Jackson, Environmental and Civil Engineering
  - Erica Lawson, Chemical Engineering
  - Sienna Magee, Mechanical Engineering
  - Joseph Robinson, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  - Ashley Tokarz, Industrial Engineering
  - Neel Shah, Computer Engineering
  - Ashley Tokarz, Industrial Engineering
  - Rachel Tompa, Mechanical Engineering