This project, based on the use of a Project Based Learning (PBL) environment with high school students, is a partnership between Tuskegee University, Auburn University, a rural and an urban school district in the historic Black Belt region of the state of Alabama, and the Alabama State Department of Education. The focus of the partnership is to recruit annually a cohort of thirty ethnically and racially diverse high school students from the partnering school districts for immersion in a STEM intensive PBL four-week "STEM Summer Academy" hosted by Tuskegee University. The Academy is designed to provide 30 rising 10th and 11th grade students annually (90 over the life of the three-year grant) with far-reaching technological experiences through the exciting exploration of aerial drones under a PBL framework. Students in each cohort will form a diverse group in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and residing in urban or rural areas. The key questions being addressed are: (1) What coherent sets of experiences effectively and efficiently support student competency (e.g., knowledge, skills), motivation and persistence for productive participation in the STEM-related workforce of today or in the future? (2) What roles might business and industry workforce members play in motivating students to become aware of, interested in, and prepared for careers in the STEM-related workforce? and (3) Given the shifting demographics reflected in our current classrooms and in our country what are effective and productive ways to ensure broadening participation by engaging diverse underrepresented populations in STEM programs and careers?
The goals of the Drone Academy project are to provide Alabama students and teachers from the rural Macon County School District and the urban Montgomery School district (ITEST Scholars) with technology-rich experiences through project-based learning that develop disciplinary-based knowledge and practices, critical thinking, reasoning skills, and communication skills needed for studies in STEM and to use strengths of the ITEST partnership between Tuskegee University (TU) and TU’s Computer Science Department Advisory Board (CSAB) and TU’s Engineering Alumni Associate (TUEAA) to foster awareness among ITEST Scholars of the full spectrum of STEM-related occupations and to chart pathways for Scholars to these professions.
The goals of this project have been developed in collaboration with officials from the partner school districts, faculty at Tuskegee University and Auburn University and representatives from the Alabama State Department of Education. They are formulated to determine the impact of immersing students in technology experiences and special partnerships at the STEM Summer Academy based on their STEM interest, STEM knowledge, and awareness of the pathways needed to take for successful STEM careers. A mixed-method design with both qualitative and quantitative data will be used to examine the students' motivation and attitude towards science in a PBL environment.
Scholars will gain STEM-related experiences including: (1) Understanding the components of aerial drones through assembly, such as associated hardware, software and circuitry; (2) Teamwork; (3) Learn collaboration through cloud computing; (3) Best practices in using technology through mini-courses; (4) Preparation of e-portfolios of daily tasks, for posting as YouTube videos for broad dissemination; and (5) Fortification of math and science concepts directly related to their high school curriculum. In parallel with these activities, CSAB/TUEAA representatives will strategically work with Scholars (teachers and students) to foster an awareness of STEM career options and empower them with the necessary preparation for, and knowledge of, academic pathways needed to reach the STEM workforce.
The Academy activities are designed to encourage Scholars to seriously reflect on the benefits of choosing educational pathways that will lead to STEM-related careers and occupations in an effort to increase the participation of women and minorities in the STEM-related workforce.
Dr. Fan Wu
Program Director, Professor and Head of the Computer Science Department
Computer Science Department
Phone: 334-727-8362
Email: fwu@tuskegee.edu
Dr. Cassandra Thomas
Assistant Professor
Computer Science Department
Phone: 334-727-8587
Email: cthomas@tuskegee.edu
Dr. Jay Bhuyan
Professor
Computer Science Department
Phone: 334-727-8371
Email: jbhuyan@tuskegee.edu
Dr. Mohammed Qazi
Professor
Department of Mathematics
Phone: 334-727-8139
Email: mqazi@tuskegee.edu
Dr. Chai Lin Chen
Assistant Professor
Computer Science Department
Phone: 334-727-8554
Email: cchen@tuskegee.edu
Dr. Asif Baba
Assistant Professor
Computer Science Department
Phone: 334-727-8744
Email: ababa@tuskegee.edu
This project will advance efforts of the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program* to better understand and promote practices that increase students' motivations and capacities to pursue careers in fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) by engaging in hands-on field experience, laboratory/project-based entrepreneurship tasks and mentorship experiences.