Photo By Capt. Bryan Perrenod | Pioneer Middle School students work as a team to build a bridge frame, with each...... read more read more
DUPONT, Wash – The 555th Engineer Brigade and the Pioneer Middle School in DuPont, Wash., partnered together to create a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, outreach program for the middle school students. These types of programs have been done with high school students, but this is the brigade’s first program to be instituted with a focus on middle school.
On the outreach program, Maj. Kenneth Cook, the brigade plans officer, said “We have developed our outreach program based on the Chief of Engineers guidance of partnering with local educational institutions to advance interest in STEM-Education at all levels.”
Cook was one of the primary officers in charge of planning and organizing the program for the 555th Engineer Brigade. Soldiers with expertise and education in Engineering volunteered to be presenters to the students.
For the first event, students were given a presentation on the Corps of Engineers and on the process of construction management. Capt. Zachary Abrams gave the initial presentation.
“I walked them through a hypothetical scenario in which they managed the construction of their favorite restaurant,” he said.
Abrams wasn’t sure how interested the students would be in the presentation but goes on to explain, “They were quick to participate in the scenario and raised legitimate questions that I was not expecting. I thought I would have to beg for participation, but I was the one who had to end the conversation for the sake of time!”
Following the presentation, the students were formed into teams to complete a practical exercise. Their exercise was to build a bridge frame out of PVC pipes and joints based on a given plan. Each team got the same materials, and chose a team leader to be the project manager.
Each teams project manager then assigned roles to their team members, one being a pipe tradesman, another a joint tradesman, and the last the quality controller. Each role was specific, for example the pipe tradesman was the only one that could touch and place the PVC pipes. This was done to represent how projects will have different trades to complete tasks required, like plumbers or electricians.
The teams then competed to build the frame, the winner going to the overall fastest with them being rewarded with jolly ranchers. The practical exercise was used to show how the subjects they learn can be applied in a real project.
“Hopefully they’ll see the application of Math and Science in Engineering and Technology. When I see students doing math, my first typical question is “Where will you use that?” Hopefully through STEM they’ll be able to make the connection,” said Kurt Bethman, the class’ teacher.
On the student’s reception to the presentation “Their first statements the next day were ‘When are they coming back?’”
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.09.2015 20:23 |
| Story ID: | 156477 |
| Location: | DUPONT, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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