July 30, 2010

 Marathon High School Teacher Engineering Awareness Program (HSTEAP)

Kathy Moise (far right) is joined by (l to r) Christina White (facilitator), Renee Hartley (East St. John), Penny Perkins (Bethany) and Erica Lipscomb-Randolph (East St. John) to wind test their high-rise building.
The LSU College of Engineering's Office for Diversity Programs held the 2nd Annual Marathon High School Teacher Engineering Awareness Program June 7 - 11, 2010. Thirty Louisiana high school teachers met on the LSU campus to attend the intensive week-long program funded by Marathon Oil Corporation. Collaborative support was also supplied by LSU's Cain Center for Science, Technological, Engineering and Mathematics Literacy.

The Marathon High School Teacher Engineering Awareness Program (HSTEAP) builds an infrastructure of engineering knowledge and understanding amongst high school teachers. Fifteen high school mathematics and science teacher pairs gained expertise in and learned strategies for promoting and strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education practices with an emphasis in engineering. Mathematics and science teacher pairs were chosen to participate in this program so they could learn and understand the connection and role each discipline plays in engineering and ultimately turn around to teach their students the same principles.   

"I thoroughly enjoyed the program. Each day was filled with activities that will help math/science teachers introduce students to the field of engineering," said Kathy Moise, Bethany Christian School Mathematics Teacher. "I am excited about implementing the design activities with junior high and high school students at our school."

Innovative community that reflects restoring and improving urban infrastructure for hurricane prone cities.
The teachers were introduced to hands-on engineering design and instrumentation in a planned and integrated learning environment that focused on the Engineering Grand Challenges, alternative energy sources and the 21st Century Skills. The week-long program helped to the teachers to understand the importance of the 12th grand challenge to the state of Louisiana, "Restore and Improve the Urban Infrastructure," especially regarding natural disasters. Using the engineering design method, Louisiana Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) for their respective disciplines, and the needs of their community, the teachers designed and built a small community with innovative ideas for restoration, improvement and sustainability through natural disasters. The community included state-of-the-art a church, high school, police station, library, hospital, boutique, grocery store and model-home, all designed to survive hurricane winds and flood water.

The week also included a session focused on the meaning and importance of STEM, as well as the differences between each. The importance of engineers in everyday life, their particular community, and the world was discussed and researched to help the teachers understand the role and value of engineers. The teachers also enjoyed discipline and research focused chats led by LSU College of Engineering professors: Warren Waggenspack, Mechanical Engineering; Mike Benton, Chemical Engineering; Marwa Hassan, Construction Management and Industrial Engineering.

Athanasios Chalastaras (left) and Kay Butler (right) describe their innovative and disaster proof church to the class.

Julianne Webb, Transformation 2013 Professional Development Leader, and Christina White, the University of Texas at Austin Mechanical Engineering Instructor, were the program's instructors. They provided guided training consisting of lectures, tutorials, and structured mini engineering workshops aligned to the Louisiana Grade Level Expectations (GLEs), and exposed the teachers to foundational elements of engineering.

 

Participants received exposure and materials that will allow them to incorporate engineering into their lesson plans, provide their students with enriched learning opportunities and inspire them to seek higher achievement in mathematics and science.

"The program organization and presentations were outstanding and the presenters worked together very well," thought Athanasios Chalastaras, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy Science Teacher. He concluded that "The implementation of project based learning was taught through facilitative instruction where fewer rules and more critical thinking was required. These learning lessons are very valuable tools that I utilize."

All of the teacher participants expressed enthusiasm over how they planned to implement what they learned during the program. "I plan to be a little more involved by providing planned exposure to engineering problems and projects in the future, as well as mentioning important aspects of engineering more frequently during "regular" class periods when projects are not being addressed," said Kay Butler, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy Mathematics Teacher. "STEM problems will be used more regularly as a "Problem of the Week" (POW) to allow my students time to process and understand the problems better, researching those that appeal to them."

 

 

2010 Marathon High School Teacher Engineering Awareness Program Participants, Facilitators and LSU Faculty and Staff
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The June 2010 HSTEAP program includes teacher pairs from:

  1. Episcopal High - Baton Rouge
  2. Delcambre High - New Iberia
  3. Higgins - Marrero
  4. South Beauregard High School - Lake Charles
  5. Denham Springs Freshman High - Denham Springs
  6. East Jefferson High - Metairie
  7. Northside High School - Lafayette
  8. East Ascension High - Gonzales
  9. Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy - Metairie
  10. East St. John - LaPlace
  11. Bethany Christian School - Baker (alumni from the first year HSTEAP served as mentors)

 

 



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