AIAA members are encouraged to volunteer for our Section STEM outreach activities. We also get requests to support other initiatives. Those listed below deserve our support.
A World In Motion
SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers), through the SAE Foundation, has produced a STEM program called 'A World In Motion' (AWIM). This program started over twenty years ago with the goal of making STEM topics fun and interesting to students in Kindergarten through 9th grade. Students, working in teams, along with volunteer engineers, design, build and test products thru various 'hands-on' projects. SAE has recently created new STEM programs for grades Kinder thru 3rd grade. What makes this program so successful is the concept of putting volunteer engineers into the classroom with the teacher and students.For the 2013-14 school year, there are nearly a dozen schools in the program, most in the East Valley. They all need engineer volunteers. The schools include the Knox Gifted Academy in Chandler, Ira Fulton Elementary in Chandler, Bogle Junior High in Chandler, and Kino Junior High in Mesa.
More volunteers are needed. Most volunteers spend 2 hours per week, for 6 weeks, working in the classroom with the students and the teachers. You would work with just one school, and if you have to miss some of the sessions, that's ok. Training is also available. To sign up to volunteer, or if you would like more information about the AWIM program in the Phoenix area (we are in 11 schools), contact Don Robins at drobins1137@msn.com, or call him at 248-807-3604.
More information on the AWIM program is available at: www.awim.org.
Don Robins
AWIM Phoenix Area Coordinator
STEM Identity Program
Students decide whether or not they would like to pursue a STEM career by the end of eighth grade. Many students in less-affluent areas are seldom exposed to friends or family members in STEM professions. This program, sponsored by the Maricopa County Education Service Agency (MCESA), intends to change that. By supporting students in building a STEM identity, they are more likely to see themselves as persisting in STEM and striving to become a STEM professional. A crucial component to student STEM identity development is access to STEM Professionals as Role Models.Volunteers are needed to meet with students via online video technology twice a month to help with classroom engineering design challenges. You will also engage teachers once per month in discourse about engineering design via online video technology. This gives you an opportunity to share what you do and your passion for STEM through your conversations. Your volunteered time counts as an in-kind donation.
A commitment of 3 hours per month over the course of the ten month school year is required. Training will be provided to help you engage and support students and teachers. MCESA urgently needs vounteers by mid December so they can get programs started in the new year. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Dr. Jacquelyn Kelly at 602-372-7295 or jacquelyn.kelly@mcesa.maricopa.gov.
Students and teachers will greatly benefit from you as a STEM Professional Role Mode. Thank you for your support!