Archive for the ‘Sierra College’ Category

Girls explore Non-traditional careers at Sierra College

Friday, October 17th, 2014

On Oct. 17, 2014 nearly 100 girls visited Sierra College, were inspired by entrepreneurial women in tech fields, made hands-on projects in labs and met for round table discussions with mentors from local companies.

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Manufacturing Day events in October

Thursday, August 7th, 2014

Manu Day Rocklin HS students tour RobbJack DSC02004Sierra College and SME Sacramento Valley have partnered to connect schools and businesses for National Manufacturing Day and events throughout the month of October. The goal is to make students aware of STEM education paths that lead to advanced manufacturing careers. There are many opportunities for students to become designers, engineers and fabricators with companies in Placer and Nevada counties.

Students enrolled in Career Technical Education courses in high school can further their education at Sierra College earning certificates and degrees. With technical skills, students can secure internships and part-time work with employers to gain practical skills and earn money to pay for their education.

By attending tours, students learn more about what local manufacturing firms produce and determine if they can envision themselves working in the environment. They can also gain insight into the hiring process and make connections. Students find it especially interesting to talk directly with employees about their work and see how they use advanced manufacturing techniques on the job.  The students often discover that the tools and software they are using in the classroom are directly applicable to the workplace.

Businesses can work with faculty members to customize the tour. For example, RobbJack, a high-end cutting tool manufacturer located in Lincoln CA, offered a tour to trigonometry students at Colfax High School. Throughout the tour, employees explained how trigonometry was used on the job. The company also developed sample math problems based on real life situations in designing and fabricating tools.

To learn more about the 2014 activities in October for National Manufacturing Day, check out the flyer (SME No CA Manufacturing Day Oct 2014 emailweb) developed to invite companies to participate. Teachers can contact Carol Pepper-Kittredge, CACT Director, Sierra College and manager of the Sierra College STEM Collaborative.


Should Art be added to STEM?

Wednesday, June 25th, 2014

A new White Paper, Exploring STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, written by Elizabeth Dayton for the Sierra College STEM Collaborative, considers adding art to STEM.  

According to Dayton, “The value of including art and innovation as part of our national effort to encourage careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is multifaceted.” The paper explores the evidence in support of adding arts and innovation to our national effort to encourage STEM education and careers.

Read this paper to learn about the evidence that indicates adding art to STEM can better prepare students to meet industry’s needs for creativity, imagination and innovation: Exploring STEAM Science Technology Engineering Arts & Math E Dayton Sierra College STEM.


College Math & Welding Faculty Create Curriculumn

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Sierra College faculty members worked together to infuse math activities and worksheets into welding classes. The project was originally funded by NSF. As a result students math scores were higher in the welding class with infused math than in the control group.

Watch the 30 minute webinar - Ignite CTE Students’ Math Skills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kryZRdulhGE

IGNITE flyer

IGNITE Math in Welding Materials

Press Release on Ignite math in welding project


Free Math in Welding Webinar – May 22, 2014

Friday, May 16th, 2014

Bill & Katie prepare for math in welding On May 22 at 4 PM, PST you can learn how to “Ignite Your CTE Students’ Math Skills.” Sierra College instructors, Bill Wenzel, Welding and Katie Lucero, Mathematics will present a free webinar on infusing welding assignments with essential math skills.

Register for this free “Ignite Your CTE Students’ Math Skills”webinar.

Read more about the May 22 Math in Welding event.

Flyer on May 22 Ignite Your CTE Students’ Math Skills 

Link to IGNITE Math in Welding Report and 8 Lessons

After the event, the Sierra College Ignite Welding infused with Math webinar will be posted on YouTube: http://goo.gl/41MrUO

Sierra College instructors will present eight turnkey activities and worksheets that they developed and used successfully in multiple welding classes to raise students’ math scores. The materials were created for the 2011-12 National Science Foundation (NSF) IGNITE (Infusing GeNed Into Technical Education) project, funded through a sub-grant from the University of West Virginia at Parkersburg.

 


Sacramento Common Core Math Workshops

Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

Teachers at Hands-on Math Workshop Sierra College STEM DSC01627The Sierra College Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Collaborative is offering a series of three workshops on implementing the Common Core standards of mathematical practice. To prepare teachers to meet the new Common Core mathematics requirements, participants will learn how to use hands-on activities to engage students and facilitate critical thinking.

Implementing the Standards of Mathematical Practice on Fridays March 14, April 4 and May 9, 2014 in Roseville CA. Sierra STEM Hands on Math Common Core March May 2014 Workshops Flyer

 


Today is Inventor’s Day

Tuesday, February 11th, 2014

What are you doing to celebrate Inventor’s Day today?

  • Recall great inventors from the past – Wright Brothers or Edison?
  • Use a 3D printer provided by Sierra College STEM at Placer, Colfax, Del Oro or Oakmont High Schools?
  • Head over to Sacramento Hacker Lab?

Find out what Quirky is saying:

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFNaGR3-7Fs

Blog Posts

http://www.quirky.com/blog/post/2014/02/in-honor-of-national-inventors-day/

https://medium.com/p/865c516e8409


Sierra College Student Clubs invited to Hacker Lab

Wednesday, January 29th, 2014

Sierra College x HL School Flyer V2Sierra College is partnering with Sacramento Hacker Lab to encourage innovation in the greater Sacramento region. Learn more at Sierra College CACT & Hacker Lab Partnership & 3D Printer Spur Innovation.

Student clubs can arrange special discounts to join Hacker Lab.

Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technology (CACT) also supplied a 3D printer and soldering equipment to Hacker Lab so members are able to use this equipment to develop new products.


Talking Directly to Advanced Manufacturing Employees Inspires Students

Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
Del Oro High School Students Tour Progressive Technology

Del Oro High School Students Tour Progressive Technology

Students participating in tours of Sacramento manufacturers repeatedly reported that the direct interaction with technicians, engineers and staff had the most impact of them. Many said that it solidified their education and career plans. The tours were part of the National Manufacturing Day and organized by Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) and the Sierra Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Collaborative.

An Oakmont High School student said, “It definitely made me more sure of my plans to pursue higher education for engineering and gave me a more clear idea what a future job might look like.”

Dan Frank, who teaches Engineering Support Technology at Rocklin High School, toured RobbJack in Lincoln, CA with his students. “As a result of the tour, my students seemed more committed to the program and can see themselves becoming technicians and engineers,” said Frank. “Students really connected to individual employees who talked to them about welding, organizing the shop using 7S or programming CNC machines to create prototypes.”

Teachers also say that the experiences are enriching their curriculum with applied academics and 21st Century Skills.

Learn more about the impact of high school STEM students touring local businesses as part of the National Manufacturers Day and how teachers are using the experience to help students refine their interest in Advanced Manufacturing careers as well as bringing real world applications into their classrooms by reading:  STEM Teachers See Impact of Manufacturing Day Tours Organized by Sierra College.


Colfax Student Movies Highlight Sierra STEM Impact

Thursday, October 31st, 2013

Colfax High School students who benefited from the freshmen Tech Essentials course supported by Sierra College STEM, recently made these STEM interview movies as sophomores. Thanks to Wade Wolff who guided these students in producing this project. The interviews with teachers, counselors and the principal describe the impact that the Sierra STEM Collaborative has had at Colfax High School. Click the links below to see the four movies on the Colfax You Tube ColfaxMultimedia Channel.

Colfax Tech Essentials Teacm

Tech Essentials Team – The Colfax High School Tech Essentials teaching team talks about the positive impact the Sierra STEM Collaborative partnership. The support made it possible to create a Tech Essentials program and curriculum for freshmen. That model is now being used through the Placer Union High School District.

 

Principal – Principal Rick Spears talks about the Sierra College STEM Collaborative and the CTE program at Colfax High. Teachers have benefited from collaboration time, professional development and cutting edge tools. As a result, all Colfax students are being exposed to STEM Curriculum and opportunities after high school.

Career College Counselor – Career College counselor Bobbi Jo Forsyth talks about how the Career Cruising program, supplied by Sierra College STEM Collaborative, is helping her do her job at Colfax High School and attract students, especially girls, to Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.

Counselor – Counselor Rachel Dalton talks about using the Career Cruising program at Colfax High School. Students start using it as freshmen and can use it throughout high school to explore careers, discover their interests, research colleges and make career plans.

The students who made these movies gained valuable skills from the Tech Essentials course that all freshmen take at Colfax High School to learn applied academics. The course taught them to teamwork, project management and documentation as well as provided an introduction to Career Technical Education courses covering engineering, metal fabrication, woodworking, electronics, multi-media and photography. Sierra STEM provides support to the teacher team that created this Tech Essentials course and has supplied equipment to bring the design and innovation labs up to date.