Abstract:

Engineers on Wheels (EOW) is a Rowan University sponsored mobile engineering outreach program. Each semester, a team of 4-6 interdisciplinary engineering students is tasked with bringing lessons in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to a number of area schools, with particular focus on students from grades 5-8. Visits are scheduled on a weekly basis to promote continuous learning and provide a more in-depth look at various engineering disciplines and career paths. Repeated visits also allow EOW team members to develop a rapport with the children they work with, and enable them to provide mentorship and guidance in advising students on the path to a successful career in STEM related fields. Themed lessons spotlight individual disciplines, and traditional classroom learning is always paired with creative and thought-provoking hands-on activities. Activities are intended not only to pique student interest, but to facilitate a deeper understanding of the impact that engineers have on their everyday lives. Founded in 2010 under the direction of Dr. Kauser Jahan, the mobile program has shown great success in generating and maintaining student interest in STEM disciplines; anonymous surveys distributed during the first and final visits to each school allow the EOW team to quantify changes in general knowledge and interest in pursuing engineering, and have shown consistently positive results. It is anticipated that these mobile efforts will result in increasingly diverse classes of engineers at Rowan University as generations of past student participants approach college age.

Keywords:

Outreach, STEM.