Adaptable Framework for K-12 STEM Outreach Activities: The Case of a Civil Engineering Workshop on Sustainable and Hazard-Resistant Earth Masonry
Publication: Journal of Civil Engineering Education
Volume 150, Issue 4
Abstract
Conducting K-12 outreach programs on university or college campuses focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines is an essential part of the multifaceted effort for preparing future generations of engineers and scientists. However, the lack of structured frameworks to design and deliver activities and programs that maximize potential impacts poses a challenge. This case study contributes to filling this gap by presenting a six-step adaptable pedagogical framework whose intent is to provide meaningful structure for on-campus STEM outreach activities that emphasize collaborative, hands-on learning experiences for pre-college students. Successful implementation of the framework is demonstrated through the design of a civil engineering workshop on sustainable and hazard-resistant earth masonry, and its evaluation through the analysis of the feedback of 85 participants from three summer workshops for high school students between 2017 and 2019.
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Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation (NSF) through awards #1537776 (PI F. Matta, co-PIs C.E. Pierce and M.A. Sutton, Program Director J. Pauschke, CMMI) and #1321489 (PI F. Matta, co-PI A. Johnson, Program Director B. Hamilton, CBET), and the University of South Carolina Office of the Vice President for Research, ASPIRE Program, through award #15520-14-35834 (PI F. Matta). Special thanks are extended to: the research assistants who participated in the workshops, including Dr. Shohana Iffat (formerly PhD student) and Mr. Mohammed Mousa (formerly MS student), and NSF REU assistants Mr. Michael Casello, Ms. Addison Darr, Mr. Chris Frishcosy, Mr. Christopher Hall, Mr. Hunter Jones, and Ms. Chlöe Upchurch; Ms. Stefanie Perrell for assisting with the PMECS survey data; and Richardson Construction Company (Columbia, SC) for supplying the soil used in research and outreach activities.
Author contributions: Erika L. Rengifo-López: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing–original draft, Writing–review and editing. Charles E. Pierce: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Writing–review and editing, Supervision, Funding Acquisition. Fabio Matta: Conceptualization, Methodology, Resources, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing–review and editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project Administration, Funding Acquisition.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Civil Engineering Education
Volume 150 • Issue 4 • October 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 29, 2023
Accepted: Feb 28, 2024
Published online: May 30, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Oct 30, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Business management
- Case studies
- Construction (by type)
- Construction engineering
- Disaster risk management
- Disasters and hazards
- Education
- Engineering education
- Engineering fundamentals
- Infrastructure
- Masonry
- Methodology (by type)
- Practice and Profession
- Public information programs
- Research methods (by type)
- School (K-12)
- Sustainable development
- Urban and regional development
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