Workplace Inclusion & Sustainable Employment

UNT WISE is hosting 3 separate Explore STEM! Summer programs for students with disabilities age 14-22.  Please read about each below!

In Conjunction with UNT's College of Engineering, we are happy to offer:

Explore STEM! Computer Engineering

When: 07/29-08/02 10:00am-3:30pm

Where: UNT Discovery Park, 3940 N Elm St, Denton, TX 76207

What: This program is designed for students with little to no previous exposure to computer engineering who have an interest in basic programming and working with computer hardware.  Activities will include:

1. Basic Programming Concepts – Students will learn how to write C programs with simple loop and conditional structures.
2. Rover Programming - Students will learn how to use the Ti-Nspire calculator to program simple tasks that can be executed on a Ti-Innovator Rover.
3. Internet of Things (IoT) Activity – Students will interact with an IoT environment (smart lights, alarm, buttons, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, Amazon Echo Dot (Alexa) and other devices) and create a smart IoT application which will interact with the devices and generate necessary output.
4. Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Soldering - Students will solder sample PCBs and then test their PCB with a power source.

 

Explore STEM! Computer Science

When: 08/05-08/09  10:00am-3:30pm

Where: UNT Discovery Park, 3940 N Elm St, Denton, TX 76207

What:  Students will need an interest in basic programming and working with computer hardware as it pertains to the Internet.  The ability to understand basic concepts of coding and follow instructions to create and test computer programs is needed.  This program is designed for students with little to no previous exposure to computer science who have an interest in programming and coding and will start with basic concepts that include:  Internet foundations and website design, programming and testing.

*Dr. Ludi (UNT Faculty program instructor) has a particular interest in students with visual impairments and would like to open the opportunity to Students with Visual Impairments first.

 

In partnership with the SciTech Discovery Center in Frisco, TX, we will offer:

Maker STEM Camp

When:  08/05-08/09 9:00am-3:00pm

Where: SciTech Discovery Center, 8004 N Dallas Pkwy, Frisco, TX 75034

What:  Students will be introduced to STEM Skills and learn their practical application as well as have an opportunity for career exposure.  Activities Include:

• Woodworking: Participants are introduced to the makerspace workshop. They learn basic shop safety and complete a skills assessment for basic hand tools which include hammers, hand saws and electric drills.  They will use these tools to cut, shape, glue, and form the most versatile of materials, wood.  Students learn how to safely use shop tools and create a unique wooden object that can be taken home.
• Mechanical linkages: Mechanical linkages aren’t glamorous but they give motion to objects; Halloween props, robots, and animatronics all use linkages to come to life. This workshop focuses on simple ways to animate common household items. Students plan out blueprints for their inventions and then begin their builds from cardboard, foam board, wood and/or metal. They take home what they make.
• Electronics: Almost everything we touch today contains electronics. They are the building blocks of technology. Understanding the basics of electronics is an essential maker skill. Students will learn about components, circuits, and how to solder. Students take home what they make.
• Scratch Programming and Makey Makey: Software coding is what makes our electronic gadgets so cool. In this workshop, students will learn to code in Scratch and make a unique input interface device. This creation will interface to their code via Makey-Makey, a way to connect the software world to the hardware world. Students take home what they make.
• Arduino: Arduino is a great tool that allows students to program a microcontroller. The microcontroller is a discrete electronic component that operates like a basic computer. Knowing how to use an Arduino is an essential skill for a Maker. It allows you to create almost anything from animatronic dinosaurs to funhouse lighting. This is a more advanced topic involving coding and electronics and will introduce students to basics of microcontrollers and their applications. 

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In order to apply for this program, participants will need to contact their Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor through Texas Workforce Solutions (TWS). The VR Counselor is the point of contact in order to apply for the program. If you do not have a VR Counselor please contact the nearest Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) office near you by referring to the VRS Directory.