Award Abstract #0235193
EPICS in K-12: An Innovation to Encourage SMET in K-12

NSF Org:	EEC Division of Engineering Education and Centers
Initial Amendment Date:	March 17, 2003
Latest Amendment Date:	March 17, 2003
Award Number:	0235193
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Sue Kemnitzer EEC Division of Engineering Education and Centers ENG Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	March 15, 2003
Expires:	August 31, 2004 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$146782
Investigator(s):	J. Bruce Litchfield b-litch@uiuc.edu (Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign SUITE A CHAMPAIGN, IL 61820 217/333-2187
NSF Program(s):	ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Field Application(s):
Program Reference Code(s):	OTHR,0000
Program Element Code(s):	1340

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.

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