Congratulations, Teachers, you’ve done it again! You have crushed another year. As you “ZOOM” into summer for a well deserved rest, we offer a hearty THANK YOU to all who have supported education in Hawai‘i this year.
We value your perseverance, flexibility, and creativity, which provided inspiration across the STEM Pre-Academy network. Fall 2021 promises yet another challenging transition and we look forward to supporting you as students return to the classroom and you engage them in person.
Our office will be open all summer. Please feel free to contact us!
Engineering Design Process (EDP) Review:
Composites – Build an Airplane Virtual Workshop
In March, we partnered with the Pacific American Foundation to host a virtual workshop for 10 K-8 teachers from O‘ahu and the Big Island. The session yielded multiple rewards. We learned that:
- “Hands-on” engineering design projects can be meaningfully delivered via distance learning,
- Integrating subject matter experts into EDP training amplifies impact by lending relevance and authenticity, and
- Unexpected connections may result from K-16 experiences that lead to professional success after graduation. The crucial role of these formative years cannot be overstated.
The workshop provided an in-depth review of the Engineering Design Process (EDP) with focus on project planning and the Gantt Chart. The EDP activity centered on constructing and testing folded airplanes from various elements combined to form composite materials. The resulting prototypes were assessed based on two performance criteria: how straight and how far they flew.
A lively discussion was enriched and validated by engagement with subject matter experts. STEM professionals boosted the relevance of the workshop experience with their valuable insights into the engineering and technical industry.
Many thanks are due to the technical contributors and guest subject matter experts who supported our 2020-21 EDP Workshops:
Randall Akiona, Adjunct Faculty, Construction Management, School of Architecture, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Aaron Hanai, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Math & Sciences, Arts & Sciences Division, UH Kapi‘olani Community College
Troy Nakagawa, PhD candidate, Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering, University of Washington; former STEM Pre-Academy Summer Intern
Ren Ishii, Lead Engineer for 787 Interior Certification Integration, The Boeing Company
The Build an Airplane EDP activity was inspired by the Composites Curriculum developed by the Boeing/Teaching Channel Partnership. If you are interested in implementing the Composites EDP activity with your students, please contact us!
While mandated social distancing posed many challenges this year, virtual meeting spaces allowed us to connect with teachers we might not otherwise get to “see” as often. 54 teachers on four major islands represented the following schools:
- Āliamanu Middle
- ‘Iao Intermediate
- Jarrett Middle
- Kailua Intermediate
- Kamaile PCS
- Kapa‘a Middle
- Kāu High and Pāhala Elementary
- Niu Valley Middle
- Waiākea Intermediate
STEM Pre-Academy staff demonstrated tools that could be used to enhance various types of instruction, such as traditional face-to-face, synchronous online, asynchronous online, and blended learning frameworks. By using virtual meetings, we were still able to provide support, just-in-time resources and best practices to a broad range of teachers this year.
Thanks to everyone who was able to meet with us!
Many expressed interest in the Newton’s Second Law Teacher’s Guide with teacher contributions from ‘Ilima Intermediate and Highlands Intermediate Schools. We will let everyone know when it has been posted on the STEM Pre-Academy website.
Sharing Ideas to increase student engagement and creativity via PODCAST:
Teachers from Āliamanu Middle, Lāna‘i High and Middle, and Waipahu Middle Schools joined in a virtual discussion about podcasting. They explored software challenges and delivery strategies that will help them integrate podcasting into their curriculum. Suggestions from the discussion will help us streamline a planned teacher workshop.
Would you be interested in attending any of the following workshops this summer?
Please share your workshop preferences in the following poll!
- 3D Printing Overview – tips/tricks and a demonstration session jointly led by a former engineering intern and a STEM Pre-Academy teacher
- Podcasting in the Classroom – a one-day workshop in July
- Digital Media workshop – a half-day on “Beyond the Selfie + Basic Shots”
We are excited about our new and enhanced STEM Pre-Academy Website! The new site re-anchors our commitment to inspire change through collaboration. Once it goes live, you will find your favorite features, including the Document Resources and Toolkit for Teachers Lending Pages, as well as some exciting new additions. Many thanks to all who helped with testing and fine tuning.
An email announcement of the launch is coming soon!
