Thoughts from the Chair
Please read this month’s newsletter. There is some time-sensitive information that we want you to know. Also, if you haven’t already, follow the division on Twitter, @PCEE_Div
Bradley Bowen, PCEE Division Chair (bowenb@vt.edu)
It’s time for the 2021 PCEE Executive Committee Election!
We have a fantastic slate of candidates for the positions opening up on our division’s executive committee. The voting period runs until the end of day Friday, March 19th. Please take a few minutes to go to the ballot to learn about the positions and candidates and VOTE.
2021 PCEE Virtual Conference – PRESENTER APPLICATION IS OPEN!
Click here for the application. There is a need for presenters, keynotes, and virtual hosts. The 2021 PCEE Conference will be virtual on two half-days, June 23 and 24, 2021. Please spread the word to any colleagues that may benefit from presenting or attending. If you have any questions about presenting, keynotes, or hosting, or if you are interested in being part of the planning committee, please contact Andrea Burrows at andrea.c.burrows@gmail.com.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Family Social Media Challenge
Title: Everyday Engineering Social Media Conversations
Kids are naturally curious about their world, just like engineers and innovators are interested in their jobs. Youth ask questions many adults don’t consider. In this challenge, we want families to engage in conversations through the lens of a sharp mind, as students explore the mechanisms of everyday items in their community. How does the design work, why does it operate better than other devices, how will the device look like in 10 years?
Objective: Share with the world how engineering impacts your family and community
Launch: Engineering Week – February 21-27, 2021
Format: 1-2 minute video
Prize: Free Family Engineering Kits
Eligibility: The challenge is open to all families, students grades P – 6th
Submission Deadline: Friday, April 30th, 2021, at 11:59 pm.
Creating a video:
- Pose a question to a family member about the innovation of an everyday item that many people may take for granted, but individuals in your home or community utilize it often.
- Create a video of you asking a family member the question or engaging with your family in some fashion (see example below).
- A statement needs to be shared about the future of engineering based on the student’s perception of the world and the item of question.
- Post video on the family’s social media platform of choice (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, or Youtube) using #PCEEChallenge @PCEE_Div
Example questions:
- Why were brooms developed in that way?
- How does the mechanism work? And what problem does it solve?
- What do people still use brooms instead of vacuums?
- Do you think the broom will still be around in 10 years? If not, will the vacuum cleaner always be here, or will it too be replaced?
First-Year Engineering Experience Conference – Call for Participation
The First-Year Programs Division of ASEE is accepting paper abstracts and workshop proposals to be presented at the 2021 First Year Engineering Experience (FYEE) Conference. This year’s conference will be held virtually on August 9-10, 2021. The full call for participation can be found here. Paper abstracts and workshop proposals are due March 22, 2021, with draft papers due May 10, 2021. We recognize that a major strength of FYEE is the networking opportunities it provides. Preserving meaningful networking opportunities will be prioritized in the virtual conference platform and format adopted for this year’s conference. In addition, we are excited that as a virtual conference the cost of participation will be highly affordable (estimated to be $50-$75 per attendee)! Check https://sites.asee.org/fyee2021/ for more details. Please direct any questions to Kevin Calabro at kcalabro@umd.edu.
Share your P12 programs!
The ASEE Commission on P12 Engineering Education is collecting information about activities and programs that support engineering education in the pre-college space. These could be activities taking place with students or with teachers; held in-school, extracurricular, or in informal environments; working with just a few individuals or reaching large groups. The goal is to create a central resource so that all working in the P12 space can share with and learn from each other. Below is a link to a short survey. The information collected from the survey will be shared through a map and hub on the Commission’s website and to select programs to be highlighted in a “spotlight” section periodically. No information will be shared by the Commission without first securing the approval of those who filled out the survey. Everyone is asked to share this survey link with others they know who are involved in the P12 engineering space, whether they are members of ASEE or not.
Survey link: https://forms.gle/b6GreyywCLJBfon37
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Kathy Harper – harper.217@osu.edu
Katey Shirey – katey@edukatey.com
How can ASEE better serve the P12 educator community?
ASEE Headquarters has created a P12 educator survey to gain some insight on how they can better serve the P12 educator community and what they can offer that would encourage membership in ASEE. The survey also asks for thoughts on the annual conference. If you could please complete the survey and share this link with any educators you know at any level (teacher, school administrator, district administrator, state, etc.), it would be much appreciated. https://forms.gle/42yhBCt7CzhpMUTh9
Teachers that complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for one of several free teacher memberships as well as a top prize of free registration to the annual conference in 2021. If a teacher who has already paid for membership this year wins, the free membership can be used for 2021-2022.
Engineering Challenges for P12 Instructors and Parents
ASEE has established a Facebook page to provide engineering challenges for P12 instructors and parents. Please go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/687366151802693/ to join and see all the awesome design challenges. If you have a challenge you would like to post on the page, please email Stacy Klein-Gardner at stacy.klein-gardner@vanderbilt.edu.
Free Membership for HS Students to AIAA
The American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is offering free membership to High School students. Please go to aiaa.org/hs for more information.