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Engineering Sciences Curriculum Committee
November 30, 2006Present: Carol Schurman, Helaine Brown, Christy Bartley
The following items were discussed:
Low Usage Projects-There are several projects in this curriculum area that have 200 or fewer books used each year. They are computer mysteries, small engines, electricity, aerospace, and woodworking. Concern was expressed because these are projects that would attract boys to the program. Since the enrollment for this year shows 60% of participants are girls and only 40% are boys, the committee felt it was important to continue to support these projects and make an effort to provide in-service for them. The efforts would focus on in-servicing the aerospace project at fall in-service 2007 and the small engines project in March 2008. The committee will work on identifying individuals (volunteers or extension educators) who would assist in the workshops.
Input to the committee was that level 1 of the computer mysteries series was too basic. With children working on computers in schools, they are beyond that level when they join 4-H. We may consider ordering only levels 2 and 3 in the future. Christy will ask Peg Shuffstall to review the curriculum and see if she would be willing to do a workshop for educators.
Committee members also emphasized that it takes about three years to get through a book, so there may be some years when very few project books are ordered. There was some input that the activities in the books are just not hitting the mark for engaging youth and getting them excited about the project area. Christy will also look at enrollment in each project area and compare enrollment to project book use.
Helaine will send out a brief survey to her region and to the Southeast Camping Group to obtain more input on this curriculum area.
New Projects-Three new projects were shared with the group: Acres of Adventures; Exploring Spaces, Going Places; and Robotics. The Acres of Adventures curriculum was designed for use in after-school settings by third through fifth graders. The committee recommends that one copy of these books be ordered for each county to use as reference materials. Educators could pull out activities for day camps and other activities or loan the books to leaders of after-school clubs. The books are not project books but leader guides.
The committee believes the robotics books are good but feel they will be used by a limited audience. Participants need to purchase a robotics kit similar to Lego Mindstorm. These kits are about $300.00 each. Kits could be shared by a small group of youth. There is also a $15.00 CD that goes with the program. Christy will share the materials with Phil Hoy for his input. He was working on a robotics program for YET so Pennsylvania may have other materials available. The committee should also be thinking of grant opportunities to support purchasing some robotics kits for this program area.
The Exploring Spaces, Going Places curriculum is on CD only. There was a concern expressed for those youth that do not have color printers. How would this project link to the GIS/GPS materials developed here at Penn State? Could these materials be an introduction to the more advanced materials? Concern was also raised about the expense of the materials needed. Christy will share the curriculum with Phil Hoy, Sandy Smith, and Stewart Bruce for input.
Minutes prepared by: Christy Bartley, Committee chair