EPICS in K-12: An Innovation to Encourage SMET in K-12

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

Investigators

Abstract

This project proposes to extend the EPICS Engineering Projects in Community Service model by vertically integrating select University of Illinois undergraduate EPICS teams with K-12 students in the Champaign-Urbana. Depending on the nature of the project, the K-12 students will work as consultants for, clients of, or teammates with undergraduate students on real science and engineering projects that serve the community. Problem-based learning and cooperative learning will be the key pedagogical approaches to enhancing student learning. By presenting K-12 students with an open-ended problem and challenging them to work together to find and implement a solution, the students will development cognitively as they learn new information, analyze data and alternatives, synthesize and create solutions, and evaluate alternative. Further, engaging K-12 students in large, real-world "hands-on/minds-on" problems in teams with undergraduate engineering students will increase the motivation, confidence, excitement and interest of younger students in SMET.