NASA Summer of Innovation
NASA Summer of Innovation - faqs
Proposal
Summary 200 words
Summer is a wonderful opportunity to do STEM activities with the kids at New Smyrna Beach Boys & Girls Club. With the Summer of Innovation activities and funding, we will be able to bring in certified teachers and informal educators to lead a broad range of hands-on activities.
The primary focus will be on NASA SoI program activities in the engineering category. Most of the kids in SoI program are females, underrepresented minorities and low-income learners. These kids have few if any role models in the STEM disciplines. We want to provide an opportunity to practice problem-solving skills and to highlight engineering as a career option. The professional development workshop is offered to encourage other educators to include these activities in their own classrooms. Most importantly, the kids at NSB B&GC will have many first-hand experiences with the excitement of STEM activities.
Application
- For the 2013-2014 school year, Program participants will enter grades 4-9 or teach grades 4-9.
- Program will serve underrepresented or underserved individuals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines (e.g. females, underrepresented minorities and low-income learners)
- Program will conduct educator workshops (for certified teachers, pre-service teachers and/or informal educators) featuring SoI content or themes.
- Program will occur between June 17, 2013, and December 16, 2013.
- Program will deliver at least 6 hours of Summer of Innovation content.
New Smyrna Beach Boys & Girls Club (NSB B&GC)
Boys & Girls Clubs provide diverse activities to meet the interests of all youth. The idea is to engage young people in activities with adults, peers, and family members to develop the confidence and self-esteem that will enable them to reach their full potential. National programs are available in the areas of education, the environment, health, the arts, careers, alcohol/drug and pregnancy prevention, gang prevention, leadership development and athletics.
Based on physical, emotional, cultural, and social needs and interests of girls and boys, the Boys & Girls Club of Volusia/Flagler Counties offers program activities in:
- Character & Leadership Development
- Education & Career Development
- Health & Life Skills
- The Arts
- Sports, Fitness, & Recreation
NSB Boys & Girls Club serves underrepresented / underserved young people (e.g. females, underrepresented minorities and low-income learners) in the New Smyrna Beach community. This NASA Summer of Innovation Mini-Award will support summer programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Organizational Expertise
New Smyrna Beach Boys & Girls Club staff are experienced program managers.
- Neal Coates, Director
- Kim Brown, Youth Development Coordinator
Lead educators are certified teachers and/or experienced community educators.
- Valerie Taylor, M.S. Ed.
- Certified teacher - to be confirmed
Informal educators working on the program are long-time STEM educators in primary and middle grades, higher education and/or worked in careers that relied on STEM college degrees and relevant experience with developing technologies.
Educators participating in the Educator Workshop are certified teachers and informal educators with backgrounds and interest in STEM activities.
Program
Offering STEM activities is an ongoing objective of the New Smyrna Beach Boys & Girls Club. The NSB B&GC will be open over the summer and the NASA Summer of Innovation Mini-Award program will be a great addition to the activities planned. Most of the kids that will receive SoI content are females, underrepresented minorities and low-income learners.
The activities provided on the NASA web site, particularly the ones in the engineering category will be the primary focus. We want to highlight engineering as a career option and provide an opportunity to practice problem-solving skills. The choice of activities will be geared to the limited facilities at the NSB B&GC site. Activities that can be completed in a single session will be preferable.
Student Program
Experienced teachers will prepare Summer of Innovation hands-on activities for the kids at the NSB Boys & Girls Club. To fit with existing summer programs and field trips plans, the SOI sessions will be scheduled as 1-3 sessions per week. Each session in the student program will be approximately 2 hours. The Summer of Innovation activities will be offered as individual sessions so kids and educators will have the opportunity to participate in a complete activity, even if they are unable to attend all the sessions. A new SOI activity will be featured in each session. Depending on the weather and activity, the SOI activities will be staged either indoors or outside.
For many of the students, basic academic skills - reading and writing, take priority in tutoring sessions provided throughout the school year. During the summer, offering a broader range of STEM activities is an important enrichment opportunity. The NASA Summer of Innovation Mini-Award provides direction and funding that would benefit these students greatly.
Educator Workshop
The educator workshop will be integrated with the middle school kids program, with a hands-on component, followed immediately by a discussion with the presenter about the activity content and best practices for teaching the lesson just completed.
For the hands-on component of the educator workshop, certified teachers and informal educators will participate in the sessions as aides and observers, and will work with the presenter to learn about best practices for using the NASA provided Summer of Innovation lessons. These educators will gain experience and guidance to incorporate the SOI activities into their teaching.
Summary
Summer is a wonderful opportunity to do STEM activities with these kids. Most have few if any role models in the STEM disciplines. With the Summer of Innovation activities and funding, we will be able to bring in certified teachers and informal educators to lead a broad range of hands-on activities. As a component of the educator workshop, participation in these activities will encourage other educators to offer them in their own classrooms. But most importantly, the kids at NSB B&GC will have many first-hand experiences with the excitement of STEM activities.
- End date : Aug. 23, 2013
- Event length (Total length of time of event) : multiple weeks
- Total number of contact hours for the duration of the program : 20
- Total number of SoI content hours in the program : 10
- SoI Themes/Units : Designing for Space, Life Science, Robotics
Anticipated attendees
- Number of middle-school students (entering grades 4-9 for 2013-2014 school year) that will receive SoI content. : 11-20
- Percentage of underrepresented or underserved individuals in STEM disciplines (e.g. females, underrepresented minorities and low-income learners) that will receive SoI content. : 75% - 99%
- Number of educators who will receive SoI content : 1-5*
Plan to provide online resources that can be used by other educators locally and worldwide
Each of the 10 sessions will combine the Student Program activities with Educators Workshop sessions. Educators may attend 1 or more sessions, as different SOI content will be presented at each session.
- Supplies
- Stipend - for 10 educator workshop participation sessions - 3hr/SOI workshop session - expect each educator will come to 2-3 sessions
- Lead educators - 10 sessions 4hrs (1hr prep, 2hr session, 1hr educator workshop)
- Educator workshop coordinator
Professional development
- Session leader - prep, with kids, teaching this activity, discuss with participating PD educators
- Educator(s) - work with kids during lead activity, discussion, post to web - activity instructions for kids, Edmodo, Twitter
Deliverables
Final reports must include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Organization information and location
- Project Summary (including SoI Content use in event or program)
- Student and Educator Participant Data
- Number of students by grade level
- Number of educators (certified teachers, pre-service teachers and/or informal educators)
- Demographic data (gender, ethnicity and race)
- Model of implementation (how student and teacher activities utilize SOI Themes);
- Signed budget summary (Funds cannot be used to cover food costs);
- Stories, images and media release forms;
- Student and/or educator feedback (anecdotal information); and
- Partnerships and collaboration information.
