NEW ORLEANS – Core Element, a local nonprofit promoting quality teaching in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), will host two, one-week Hands-On STEM Summer Camp sessions for students aged 9-13 and middle school teachers.
The hands-on camps will be held July 20 – July 31 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the University of New Orleans, College of Engineering. Each weeklong, interactive STEM camp will pair students and teachers who will learn and work side-by-side as they explore LEGO™ EV3 Robotics and Arduino™ Microcomputer Programming.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana will have 69,000 STEM-related jobs to fill by 2018. Currently in Louisiana there are 2.8 STEM job openings for every one job applicant. Conversely, in the non-STEM job market, there are 3.8 applicants for every one job opening. However, currently less than 30 percent of Louisiana’s students are graduating with proficiency in math and science topics.
“Students need to understand why science and math are important and become engaged in the learning process,” said Jan Brenan, Executive Director of Core Element. “To be effective, teachers need to involve students in STEM classroom activities that are fun and interesting.”
Core Element’s Hands-On STEM Summer Camp, held in partnership with the University of New Orleans, offers a unique, integrated model of training teachers while engaging students in hands-on STEM activities. Working in teams, students develop critical skills in reasoning, analytical thinking, leadership and teambuilding. Teachers receive “on the job training” and interactive professional development that helps them to be more engaging and effective in the classroom.
During both camps, students also learn about the diversity of STEM careers and the importance of math and science proficiency, an increasingly critical skill for current and future jobs. Students have the opportunity to meet with local STEM professionals to discover how to equate interest in math or science into possible careers, learn general job requirements for a specific career path, and gain an understanding of the scope and variety of STEM career possibilities.
The 2015 Core Element Hands-On STEM Summer Camp sessions include:
Session I:
LEGO™ EV3 Robotics
July 20 – 24, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Design, build and program autonomous robots.
Learn and apply engineering and scientific technology.
Use new and developed skills to complete tasks with the robot.
Session II:
Arduino™ Microcomputer Programming
July 27 – 31, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Designed for beginners, participants will gain new skills in computer programming and electronics engineering.
Learn to work with an Arduino™ to combine components like lights, motors and sensors and expand the capabilities of LEGO™ EV3 robots.
Participants will receive their own Arduino™ Starter Kit to take home.
The Core Element Hands-On STEM Summer Camps cost $350 per student for a weeklong session. A limited number of full and partial student scholarships are available.
Core Element’s Hands-On STEM Summer Camp is held in partnership with the University of New Orleans and sponsored by IEEE Foundation, Lockheed Martin, Entergy, Atmos Energy, Schlumberger and Antares Technical Solutions.
