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STEM Camp Introduces “Hands On” Science Curriculum
06/11/09 - 02:54 PM

Florida State University – Panama City

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Panama City, Fla. - Through a collaborative initiative of Florida State University Panama City (FSU PC), Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) and Bay, Gulf and Holmes School Districts, a three week science education program will be held in June at FSU PC. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grant funding from the Department of Defense (DOD) valued at $240,000 will provide training, materials and required logistics for the summer program as well as classroom materials to the school districts during the 2009-2010 school year. 
This is the second year the specialized science education program has been conducted through the collaboration. The focus of the 2008 STEM camp was working with teachers and students from area middle schools. The 2009 camp has been expanded to also include teachers and students from the high school level. 
”During this second year of the camp, we will be developing leadership skills of middle school and high school science and mathematics teachers,” stated Ed Linsenmeyer, NSWC PCD scientist and Florida STEM Coordinator. “In particular, a small cadre of teachers will become local trainers in the future and will serve on a local Planning Committee to develop implementation techniques from information provided in the Summer Camps.  The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division will continue to work with these teachers under the authority of the National Defense Education Program for K-12 STEM Learning Modules.”
From June 8 through June 12, approximately 40 science educators from the districts will receive intensive training on a new “hands on” science curriculum. Approximately 12 engineers and scientists from NSWC PCD will also receive this training along with the educators. The teachers, engineers and scientists will implement the curriculum by learning to utilize LEGO MINDSTORM robots to solve a variety of problems by designing, building and programming the robots.  Instruction will be provided by trainers from The College of William and Mary.
Approximately 120 middle school students will join the teachers, engineers and scientists from June 15 to 19 to participate in a week long day camp at the FSU Panama City campus. During the week of June 22 to 26, a camp for approximately 120 high school students will also be held at FSU PC.
Utilizing the new curriculum and training, the teachers will challenge teams of students to solve exciting problems in robotics, science and engineering using the LEGO MINDSTORM robots. The teams will also have the chance to work with engineers and scientists from NSWC PCD. Activities include designing and programming robots to navigate various obstacles, constructing and testing electronic sensors, water rocket construction, and environmental analysis. 

The expectation is that the teachers will become practitioners of inquiry-based learning and in their own classrooms move students toward effective application of concepts in STEM. During the school year as these teachers introduce the training and use of the robot kits, the engineers and scientists will join teachers in their classrooms for several days to co-teach the modules. This will expose students to a practicing STEM professional who can share how learning math and science translates into careers and real-world applications.
The ultimate aim of the STEM Educational Alliance is to measurably increase the number of students pursuing college degrees in science and engineering.
The numbers of graduating engineers in the U.S. has fallen in recent years. Some reports indicate that India may be graduating up to 10 times and China up to 7 times as many engineers as the U.S. The National Science Foundation has reported that only 23 percent of the doctoral graduates in Electrical Engineering of U.S. universities are American citizens,  said Dr. David Skinner, FSU PC electrical engineering professor who was instrumental in securing the DOD National Defense Education Program STEM grant.  With so many facilities in proximity, and already established networking relationships among them, an investment in identifying, guiding and ultimately in producing exemplary engineering and scientific talent seems an excellent investment to secure the workforce of the future.