Integrated Math and Physics for Entry to Undergraduate STEM

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Integrated Math and Physics for Entry to
Undergraduate STEM
David Wick Michael Ramsdell Clarkson
University (Physics) Katie Fowler Peter
TurnerClarkson University (Mathematics)

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Motivation National Need YOU CAN HELP

• Environmental Problems
• Sustainability Issues
• Technology Explosion
• Massive Amounts of Data
• Medicine
• ECONOMY
• We need an innovative workforce to create
  solutions to problems which are today
  unimaginable

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Program Components

• School Year Program
• Career/college information
• Research project-conference participation
• Roller coaster design competition
• Graduate/Undergraduate Fellows
• Campus visits /workshops
• Mentoring and Tutoring
• Cyber-learning environment
• Roller Coaster Camp
• Teacher Professional Development

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Unifying Theme

• Integrating Math, Science, and
• Technology education through
• Problem and project-based learning
• Enhanced teacher-student understanding of the
  role and importance of STEM careers
• Challenge students and teachers

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Roller Coaster Camp

• Six-Day Camp for Grades 7-12
• Five days at Clarkson University
• Company Structure
• - Concept Engineers (7-8)
• - Design Engineers (9-10)
• - Safety Engineers (11-12)
• One day at Great Escape

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Crazy Coasters Design Co.
-Slogan -Logo
Cool Creations
Dangerous Designs
Shameless Safety
Archie Ringlepox Dimple McGee
Barney Bing Dudley Doorknob Skip Tipster
Charlie Snorkel Buster Bowtie
Teacher CEOs
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Concept Engineers (Roller Coaster Architects)
Concept Design, Drawing to Scale
Task Design a Roller Coaster to scale that
contains the following elements - Start
Segment (Hill) - Loop - Corkscrew -
Mystery (?) - End Segment
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Design Engineers (Kinematics Specialists)
Roller Coaster Design
Task Modify the design for each segment to make
the ride realistic. Will the riders make it to
the end of the track?
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Safety Engineers (Its all your fault
Engineers)
Safety Analysis Is this a safe design? Will
the riders pass out?
Task Modify the design for each segment to make
the ride exciting, physically possible, and safe.
- Calculate accelerations (gs) - Check
critical points
Theres safety in numbers!
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VRC Decoder Puzzle
What is the name of the unknown segment in the
simulated Roller Coaster ride?
Barrel Roll
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Collect altitude and acceleration data!
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Saturday Final Day and Awards Ceremony
Final Presentations!
Final Jeopardy Can you say Mooooo?
Final Challenges!
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In-School IMPETUS Program
Three primary after school activities
for students, coaches, and CU fellows

• 1) Roller Coaster Design Contest (Grades 7-12)
• 2) Research Projects (Grades 9-12)
• 3) After School Competitions (Grades 7-12)

- Students and coaches meet once per week. -
Clarkson student fellows go to schools at least
once per month.
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Roller Coaster Design Contest
Design and build a working roller coaster model
that will transport a ½ in. diameter steel ball
or glass marble safely (using the AAPT design
guidelines).
Use low cost materials such as wood, wire,
string, twine, doweling, toothpicks, cardboard,
construction paper, glue, tape, etc.
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ROLLER COASTER SHOWCASE
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Roller Coaster Design Contest

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v3Xf5nkQWk9wfeature
  youtu.be

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Campus Visits

• Pi-Day
• National Science and Engineering Festival
• Career planning
• College preparation information
• Tutoring

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Original Student Research

• Local Competition
• Part of afterschool program
• CU visit showcase
• Statewide Student Conference
• Albany, NY each March
• Research poster competition (roughly 500
  students)
• Student-driven professional development workshops
• Inspirational speakers!
• Networking across NY State!
• FUN!

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Success Stories!

• 3rd place, An Investigation of Floor
  Characteristics and Exposure Time on Bacterial
  Transfer (Canton CSD, 2008),
• 1st place, Facial Features and the Human Response
  (Norwood Norfolk CSD, 2009), and
• 3rd place, Effects of Magnetic Fields on Living
  Organisms, (Norwood Norfolk CSD, 2010).
• 2nd place, Wheres the Body, (Canton CSD, 2011)
• 2nd place, Who Spends More Time on Cell Phones,
  Boys or Girls, (Harrisville, 2012)

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Promote Competitions!

• (6-8th grade) We can provide additional student
  help to coach students both in person and online!
• Team of 4 kids plus 2 individuals
• We will pay for the registration fee (February
  competition)
• Moodys Mega Math Challenge
• (10-12 grade) Teams of 3 work for 8 hours on an
  open-ended problem
• We can provide facilities and support
• Registration is FREE!
• EVERY HIGHSCHOOL SHOULD DO THIS ?
• Science Olympiad!

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Personalized 8th Grade Tutoring
NEW!

• Clarkson Student Mentors visit bi-weekly
• Khan academy personalized goal system
• Show proficiency, level-up, remain challenged!
• Linked to Common Core!
• Extendable to other subjects!
• Regents prep
• Science exams
• Accessible from anywhere with internet access

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Thank You for Listening! Stay connected!
Katie Fowler kfowler_at_clarkson.eduDavid Wick
dwick_at_clarkson.eduMike Ramsdell
ramsdemw_at_clarkson.eduGail Gotham
ggotham_at_sllboces.orgMary Margaret Small
mmsmall_at_clarkson.eduDiane Brouwer
dbrouwer_at_clarkson.edu