DEVCOM/ARL Educator Workshop
POSTED ON: Saturday, November 20, 2021 12:00 AM by Christine Maceo
On November 20, 2021, the USNA STEM Center collaborated with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM/ARL) in support of the Department of Defense (DoD) STEM strategic goal to increase participation of underrepresented groups in STEM education programs and workforce development. USNA STEM Faculty Christine Maceo provided logistical and curriculum assistance to ARL STEM Outreach Coordinator, Dr. Debbie Black-Conn, who assembled a team of Army scientists and engineers to lead virtual-but-live academic STEM sessions to an audience of high school STEM educators. Army Electronics Engineer Oyesi Aryonide, Microbiologist Bryn Adams, Computer Scientist Chuck Smith and Computer Scientist Philip David presented content-based hands-on activities in Circuits, Biofuels, Cryptography and Robotics, respectively. These ARL Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) also led discussions regarding real-world applications of the content and technologies, including Army science, STEM programs and career opportunities.
More than 45 STEM professionals (41 of whom were formal and informal high school educators) attended the event from underserved areas in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, California, Texas and Arizona, exploring ARL’s mission and essential research programs and technologies. The participants registered for the workshop in advance and received supply kits so that they could actively and fully participate in the project-based activities in real time. Required templates, worksheets and a short household supply list were provided to registrants in advance of the event.
This extremely relevant educational experience provided educators with significant insight about DoD’s need to spark interest and cultivate the next generation of STEM professionals. SFC Kishara Harris highlighted the direct correlation of providing investigative opportunities regarding research initiatives technology to the safety and performance of our soldiers and sailors in the field. DoDSTEM student opportunities were discussed, including scholarships, internships, competitions and outreach.
This effort was part of the USNA STEM Center’s second phase of ALL FORCES WORKSHOPS in DoDSTEM BEST PRACTICES to PROMOTE STEM EDUCATION and WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT program, a Department of Defense sponsored program that provides outreach training to DoD scientists and engineers from all Armed Forces and then supports their efforts to implement secondary-level educator workshops near their local command sites, with a particular focus on those educators in underserved areas. The goal of this program is to meet the urgent DoD need for more young people to pursue highly technical careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
This program was generously supported by DoD STEM, the Office of Naval Research, and the Naval Academy Foundation.
Category: General Interest