Archive for the ‘Technical Education’ Category

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


Sacramento Hacker Lab Hosts Sac Hackapalooza June 14 & 15

Monday, May 19th, 2014

Sac Hackapalooza, a youth hackathon will be held at Hacker Lab in Sacramento on June 14 & 15, 2014.  This weekend long hackathon and makeathon is limited to 100 young people, ages 12 to 18 years old.

The event is being offered in partnership with Girls Who Code, a national non-profit working to close the gender gap in the technology and engineering sectors.

Hacker Lab’s goal is “inspiring a generation of youth who are excited about coding brings limitless innovation to our economy, creates better thinkers, and allows development of entities that will improve the human condition.”

Sierra College CACT is a Hacker Lab partner and contributed a 3D printer and soldering equipment.


Colfax Grad Builds Bikes

Monday, May 19th, 2014

What happens to high school students who have been in classes taught by instructors who have benefited from the Sierra College STEM Collaborative?

In this movie, posted by Colfax math and engineering teacher, Jono Schwartz, hear about a Colfax High School graduate, now a student at Cal Poly, who built his own bike frame as a member of the university frame builders club and plans to work this summer at an internship with Harris & Bruno, in Roseville.

Video link


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.

 


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


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.


3D Printers in High Schools Prepare Students for Advanced Manufacturing

Monday, November 4th, 2013

photoSierra College STEM Collaborative recently provided 3D printers to Colfax, Del Oro and Placer High Schools to introduce Career Technical Education students to Product Design and Advanced Manufacturing careers.

See the new 3D printer at Del Oro High School.

According to a report on CNBC Disruptor Series on Manufacturing Disruptors, exponential growth is expected in 3D printing and robotics. Learn about community-based product development in second report on Quirky.

Learn more about 3D printing from the Additive Manufacturing Turning Mind into Matter — Industry Evaluation and Recommendations Report, published by Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT). The paper is intended to help both businesses and educators learn more about emerging Additive Manufacturing technologies.


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.


How to Fund a Maker Space at Your School

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

Edutopia recently released an article on 6 Strategies for Funding a Makerspace. Recommendations include: Find a space, start a club, get sponsors, seek grants, fund raise online and start a campaign. The article includes examples from California schools that have created Maker Spaces.