Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors, and Engineering (WISE)

Magued Iskander, Vikram Kapila, and

Noel Kriftcher

Motivation

Stringent immigration laws after 9/11 have significantly reduced the inflow of foreign-born/trained science, math, and engineering students

Disinterest in STEM disciplines among college bound students Engineering is held in less esteem than other professions The typical engineering curriculum is more rigorous than other majors Negative stereotypes of scientists and engineers held by teenagers Society discourages female students from becoming engineers

High schools continue to use outdated equipment to perform lab experiments

Today’s students are attracted to gadgets such as PlayStations, cellular phones, and ipods

Today’s High School Students

Attracted to new gadgets iPod Video games Cell phones

Lack of interest in Science & Mathematics due to: Uninspiring laboratory

experiments Lack of connection to real life

applications Negative stereo types Other professions held in

higher esteem

Advantages of Using Sensors & Data Acquisition in Science Labs An exciting application that is understood by pre-college students Eliminate tedious tasks, so students can focus on learning the

underlying concepts and testing new hypotheses Data reduction reinforces math skills Data analysis provides opportunity to apply science and math skills Visualization develops students’ cognitive skills and the excitement of

self-discovery Develop inquiry-based learning skills Allows us to monitor student learning and identify areas of weakness Students learn and apply state-of-the-art computerized delivery tools

Advantages of Sensor-Based Labs: Example Photosynthesis Traditional Lab

Bicarbonate indicator

Results in 1 day

Detect approximate change in concentration of carbon dioxide

Student’s attention is lost

Sensor-based Lab

Oxygen & carbon dioxide sensors

Results in 45 mins

Detect exact real time change in concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen

Student are able to change parameters and affect the experiment

Revitalizing Achievement by using Instrumentation in Science Education (RAISE)

Funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) GK-12 Grant

Partnership between Polytechnic University and four New York City high schools

Led by two engineering and one humanities faculty aided by 13 fellows and 10 NYC high school teachers

Fellows develop creative and engaging experiments using modern sensing and data acquisition technologies for physics labs

Polytechnic University

George Westinghouse

Marta Valle

Paul Robeson Telecommunication Arts and Technology

RAISE Assessment (Year-2) Impact on High School Students

Appreciate modern sensing technology Favor sensor-based technology in labs Better understanding of scientific

concepts

Impact on Fellows Improved communication and technical

skills Polish leadership and management

skills Superior problem-solving abilities Pursue a higher degree (M.Sc.)

Teachers felt that the presence of the RAISE fellows is helpful in enriching their courses

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George WestinghouseLiving Environment

2005/2006

WISE

Funded by New York State Engineers of the Future Program

Workshop for Instrumentation Science and Engineering (WISE) Two weeks

August 13-24, 2007

Twenty Teachers Residential Institute

85 hours of Intensive Training

WISE Participants

13 Men, 7 Women Age: 25-57 Experience: 0-32 years Area of Teaching

Physics: 5 Biology Chemistry: 1 Math: 5 Earth Science: 2 Technology: 5

Polytechnic Team 3 professors 6 Students (1 undergraduate)

Project Objectives for Teachers

Provide them with skills and resources to deploy sensor based labs in their schools

Reinforce their pre-engineering knowledge and skills

Provide them with technology proficiency

Improve their pedagogical skills through collaboration and exchange of ideas between

teachers and engineers

Project Goals for Students

Excite Students about Science & Math Enhanced student achievement in standardized exams Inspire students to pursue science and technology careers Elevate academic achievement of students on standardized math and science tests Build the infrastructure for a sensor-based science curriculum

Residential Institute

To facilitate the development of a supportive network of teachers dedicated tp their students’ pre-engineering studies

To permit social interactions with engineers from the local community

Sensor Kit

Each teacher received Vernier Comprehensive science

sensor kit Physics with Computers Manual Biology with Computers Manual Collection of papers on pedagogy

for technical subjects RAISE lab lesson plans Promotional Items

Sensor Kit Contents Co2 Gas Sensor Colorimeter Conductivity Probe Dual-Range Force Sensor Dissolved Oxygen Sensor Gas Pressure Sensor Hand-Grip Heart Rate Monitor Labpro Interface Low-G Accelerometer Light Sensor Microphone Motion Detector Magnetic Field Sensor Ph Sensor Stainless Steel Temp Probe Photogates Pully Attachments Picket Fence Sampling Chamber Software

8 – 9 AM Breakfast & Informal Discussion

9 – 10:30 AM Intro. to Engineering

10:45 – 12:45 PM In Class Projects

12:45 – 1:30 PM Lunch

1:30 – 3:30 PM In Class Projects

3:45 – 5:15 Pedagogical Discussions

5:15 – 7:30 Dinner Break

7:30-9:00 Presentations on Current Engineering Issues

Daily Schedule

Engineering Tutorials (15 hours)

Introduction to civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering

Basics of engineering design including elementary mechanics and stress analysis.

Measurement fundamentals including electronic measurement of strain, force, pressure, deformation, and tilt.

Introduction to mechatronics Laboratory Visits

In Class ProjectsExample Project: Stability

A force sensor is used to pull a block until the block tips or slides

Critical forces are computed theoretically and compared with the sensor measurements

Which face of the block would require the least amount of force.

In Class ProjectsExample Project: Buoyant Forces

A force sensor is used to measure the buoyant force of an object immersed in a liquid.

Plot the net force vs. volume displaced multiplied by gravity

Slope equal to the density of the liquid

Teacher Designed Lab Experiments Most Popular activity

Discussions of Pedagogy and Technology 15 Hours Case histories of active

learning with sensors were used to discuss the role of technology in education.

Topics Role of games, models, and

multimedia in the classroom Role of visual modeling in

engineering education Role of e-learning in K-12

education Relationship between pedagogy,

ethics, and technology Student attitudes towards

technology and privacy Influence of culture and gender

preferences on technical education Student assessment using

automated technology Balancing security with privacy

Night & Weekend Program

Topics of Nightly Presentations Reconstruction of World Trade

Center Supply chain management for a

global manufacturing concern Women in engineering the process of technological

innovation Rail car diagnostics 4D modeling in construction, Effect of environmental values on

decision making (NEPA) Real-time monitoring of excavation

near an operational subway line Use of recycled plastics in

construction.

Locations of Weekend Visits The Skyscraper Museum The Transit Museum

Evaluation of the Project

1. Comparison of Beginning & End of Program Surveys

2. Assessment of Teacher Projects3. Assessment of Implementation Efforts

Participants’ Assessment of Program Components

Overall Average Grade = 8.8/10

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Participants’ Self Assessment of Improvement due to Participation in WISE

Teachers reported an average improvement of 55% when comparing their self evaluation before and after attending

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School Implementation Efforts

19 out of 20 teachers submitted credible implementation efforts, including Lesson plans Teaching power points New experiments Videos of classroom

activities

Conclusions

Early indications are that WISE was a success

Acknowledgements

Program Participants New York State Engineers of

the Future Grant No: C400687 NSF grant DGE0337668 Richard Organisciak,

Superintended New Rochelle SD

Arnold Goldstein, Assistant Superintendent Bellmore Merrick SD

Eric Suhr, NYS Education Department

Teaching Assistants Brandi Barra Amir Bozerg Haddad Harish Chandra Alp Gokce Mahmoud Mahmoud Ilya Zarankin