Fostering the Future STEM Workforce via Industry and Capstone Design Class Partnerships

Abstract

In order to promote the pursuit of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and careers among Kindergarten through 12th grade students (K-12), a partnership between the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Women in Defense (WID)-a non-profit national security organization-has been established. The collaborative effort commenced as a result of the WID STEM Initiative (STEMi); a program that aims to actively encourage and inspire youth of the United States (US) to seek STEM careers. The UAH/WID partnership was initiated within a Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) capstone design class at UAH that focuses upon the design and fabrication of unique and patentable products. In order to target the K-12 age groups, the UAH/WID effort centered upon the development of products that would inspire the younger students and allow them the opportunity to interact with a hands-on artifact that conveys a specific STEM phenomenon. Several of these artifacts-referred to as STEM tools-have been developed as a result of the UAH/WID collaboration and include the following: fluid flow circuit, interactive solar system, trebuchet, ballistic pendulum, pulley system, and a Wimshurst machine-to name a few. The hands-on STEM tools motivate younger students, as interacting with hardware reinforces theoretical concepts presented in the classroom. While the primary goal of the UAH/WID partnership is to develop the future STEM workforce by inspiring younger students, through hands-on STEM tool interaction, other critical benefits have resulted. Specifically, the engineering design students have garnered invaluable experience associated with meeting stakeholder expectations, designing with safety as a top-level criterion, as well as gaining teaching experience via lessons directed to the K-12 students. Survey data gathered from the K-12 students and teachers clearly indicates that the younger students are inspired and motivated to seek a STEM education and career as a result of the UAH/WID effort. The current paper provides an overview of the UAH/WID partnership, a description of the resulting STEM tools developed, and data conveying the learning outcome and impact that the UAH/WID partnership has had upon the K-12 students, their teachers, and the engineering students at UAH.