🎢 It’s Been Quite the Ride!

Wow.

Photo generated by AI (Prompt: Hawai‘i wooden roller coaster.)

It has been quite the ride! The 2022-2023 school year is coming to a close, and wow…just wow. Congratulations, everyone! This year was almost normal, and flew by with exceptional speed, leaving most of us little time even to catch our breath. Yet here we are, doing more things in person and easing away from the protective trappings of pandemic life. Once again, we have arrived at our annual time for reflection, recharging, dreaming, and planning.

A NanoCamp is a Very, Very, Very Small Camp!

8th graders at ‘Ilima Intermediate School are the very model of a modern science student, confronting concepts their parents never dreamt of. Nano technology? No problem.

STEM Pre-Academy supported a mini version of the University of Washington NanoCamp for all ‘Ilima 8th grade science students. The outreach was part of an NSF funded research collaboration between the UHM Materials Research and Education Consortium (MRE-C) and the UW Molecular Engineering Materials Center. 

Led by UW PhD candidates and with support from UH undergraduates, the NanoCamp provided an introduction to the nanoscale universe and how nanoscale materials play an important role in everyday life in Hawai‘i. Students worked in teams to sort materials by size, from nanoscale to human scale. They also learned firsthand how nano-particles in reef-safe sunscreen protect us from harmful solar radiation.  

A big mahalo to Godwin Severa, Assistant Researcher, UHM Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, MRE-C, and Research Operations Manager Kelly Olenyik from the University of Washington Molecular Engineering Materials Center for including STEM Pre-Academy in this exceptional opportunity for Hawai‘i teachers and students. 

Are you interested in participating in future opportunities with nano technology? Please let us know! 

Like Meeting an Old Friend…

Teachers from around the state gathered on Saturday, May 6 for Bringing Ocean Science into K-16 Classrooms – A Re-Introduction to the C-MORE Science Kits, presented in partnership by the UH STEM Pre-Academy and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. On Hawai‘i Island, teachers gathered at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center; on O‘ahu, at the Mānoa Innovation Center; and a third group participated virtually.
 
The featured speaker was Mark Manuel, Pacific Islands Regional Coordinator for the Marine Debris Program, a division of the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration. Mr. Manuel spoke in depth on marine debris and its impacts, and introduced the wealth of educational resources NOAA makes available to teachers.

Three STEM Pre-Academy teacher participants shared their individual experiences adapting and using the C-MORE Science Kits with their students:  

• Debb Clevenger, 7th grade Science teacher at Waipahu Intermediate School
• Cristin Priolo, 7th grade Science teacher at DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach Public Charter School
• Jennifer Seki-Wong, 7th and 9th grade Science teacher at University Laboratory School

Following the presentations, participants spent hands-on time with the seven different C-MORE Science Kits. Many questions were answered, and the session was a lot of fun.

For more information about the C-MORE Science Kits, please visit our website.

Pythagorean Architecture

“Yeah, but when are we ever going to use this in, like, real life?”

Kaimuki Middle School math teacher, Stephany Taba, was seeking an activity for her 7th and 8th grade students, one that incorporated real-life applications of what they had been learning – primarily the Pythagorean Theorem. (That’s a2 + b2 = c2 in case you might have forgotten. 😉)

Enter Mark Okikawa, architect and Project Manager at WCIT Architecture, a prominent Honolulu firm. In his fascinating presentation, Mark introduced Ms. Taba’s class to the realm of the professional architect.

What tools does an architect use?  What kinds of architecture does Mr. Okikawa like?  And what is actually the role of mathematics in architecture?  Mark answered all these questions with aplomb, all the while planting little bits of information that could help the students in their upcoming activities, such as designing and building a roof to withstand the torrential downpours of the STEM Pre-Academy rain simulator. Of course, there will be some math to do along the way, but that is just part of the job of being an architect.

Stay tuned for highlights from the activities, and to download Mark’s presentation and activity materials!

Coming up: Virtual Coffee-Time Session

AI See You Thinking…

Photo generated by AI (Prompt: A teacher and an anthropomorphic artificial intelligence teaching assistant in Hawai‘i.)

It transforms teaching and learning! It changes in how we work! It drives our cars! Ethical quagmire! Best tech ever…!!?  

AI is many things to different folks, but few seem to really grok it. What is AI?  How does it work?  What are some K-12 applications for these radical new tools?  We would like to take a few baby steps towards getting our collective heads around what is happening.  

This summer, STEM Pre-Academy will collaborate with Michael-Brian Ogawa and Branden Ogata from the UH Department of Information and Computer Sciences to host a virtual Coffee-Time Session. Join us to get the conversation started on the emerging world of Artificial Intelligence! 

If you are interested, please pre-register with your contact info and the month you would prefer (June or July). 

Pomp and Circumstance and Cheehooo!

Our heartfelt congratulations go out to three STEM Pre-Academy veterans who graduated from UH Mānoa this past weekend. Interns Deborah Higa and Alden Fernandez each received their bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and Digital Media Fellow Deana Goslin received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. All three face bright futures and we are very proud of them.

Thank you, Deborah, Alden, and Deana for your contributions to our program. Best wishes on passing this important milestone!

Some Quick Questions for You

As always, your input will help us with planning.

Please take a minute to consider these quick questions. 

• What are your top 3 areas of interest in STEM?
• What are the most important soft skills that students should master?
• What is the greatest challenge your students face in school?
• Are you interested in participating in future opportunities with nano technology?
• Are you are interested in our Virtual Coffee Time session on artificial intelligence? What month would you prefer (June or July).