Engineering Fellows Program
Washington STEM and Washington MESA Launch Engineering Fellows Program
Washington STEM and Washington MESA launched the Engineering Fellows program today to increase engineering education efforts throughout the state focusing on King County and the Yakima Valley. National STEM organization 100Kin10 provided funding for this innovative project.
Engineering Fellows is a highly competitive program that brings engineering expertise directly into fifth grade classrooms around the state. Thirty fifth grade teachers from the Yakima Valley and King County are collaborating with professional engineers and college/graduate engineering students to design and implement engineering design challenges that are integrated with their local curriculum.
“Teachers and engineers will work together through the Engineering Fellows program to create a high-quality STEM experience for Washington students,” said Patrick D’Amelio, CEO of Washington STEM. “Washington state is number two in STEM job availability, and Engineering Fellows will ensure students are ready to take advantage of these great opportunities.”
The project launches this week as the engineering fellows take part in an intensive Summer Design Institute at the University of Washington; the fellows will develop a menu of design challenges and teaching plans to be used during the 2016-2017 school year.
“The participating teachers and engineering practitioners are lending their experience and expertise to elevate instructional strategies to better engage and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientist and leaders,” said James Dorsey, Executive Director of Washington MESA.
During the school year, students will benefit from the experience of their teachers as they engage in design challenges. The Fellows will reconvene throughout the year during Saturday sessions to reflect upon and refine the design challenges. Over the next three years, Washington STEM and Washington MESA plan to expand the program to ensure that almost 200 fifth grade teachers are equipped, empowered, and well-supported to engage students in engineering design challenges based on real-world problems.
About Washington STEM:
Washington STEM is a statewide nonprofit advancing excellence, equity, and innovation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. For more information, go to www.washingtonstem.org.
Engineering Fellows is a highly competitive program that brings engineering expertise directly into fifth grade classrooms around the state. Thirty fifth grade teachers from the Yakima Valley and King County are collaborating with professional engineers and college/graduate engineering students to design and implement engineering design challenges that are integrated with their local curriculum.
“Teachers and engineers will work together through the Engineering Fellows program to create a high-quality STEM experience for Washington students,” said Patrick D’Amelio, CEO of Washington STEM. “Washington state is number two in STEM job availability, and Engineering Fellows will ensure students are ready to take advantage of these great opportunities.”
The project launches this week as the engineering fellows take part in an intensive Summer Design Institute at the University of Washington; the fellows will develop a menu of design challenges and teaching plans to be used during the 2016-2017 school year.
“The participating teachers and engineering practitioners are lending their experience and expertise to elevate instructional strategies to better engage and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientist and leaders,” said James Dorsey, Executive Director of Washington MESA.
During the school year, students will benefit from the experience of their teachers as they engage in design challenges. The Fellows will reconvene throughout the year during Saturday sessions to reflect upon and refine the design challenges. Over the next three years, Washington STEM and Washington MESA plan to expand the program to ensure that almost 200 fifth grade teachers are equipped, empowered, and well-supported to engage students in engineering design challenges based on real-world problems.
About Washington STEM:
Washington STEM is a statewide nonprofit advancing excellence, equity, and innovation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. For more information, go to www.washingtonstem.org.