This summer, 17 local families explored engineering together through the University of Cincinnati's Family Engineering Academy, a virtual weekend learning program for second-through-eighth graders and their families.
The goal of the interactive academy is to help students discover career pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), demonstrate the work going on at the college and hopefully, inspire young people to be engineers.
Nearly two-dozen students participated in the eight-week series, which offered participants a variety of opportunities to engage with the faculty, staff and students from the UC College of Engineering and Applied Science and to learn and practice skills used by engineers every day.
Jonathan: I learned that you can use different materials to build different things. If you don't have a material you need, then you can use something else.
Anthony: When we built the ramp for the car, I learned that when we added something to protect it, it bounced back a little bit but the car without protection bounced farther.
Maria-Pierre: It helped so, if in 5th grade, we create or do problem-solving, I can find ways to use the ideas or tips in the future from the program.
Addisyn: Patience and listening and having fun.
Addisyn: Yes. Because it is very fun, and you get to learn new things. You never know what fun activities you will do. You also get prizes.
Marcelino: It refreshed my mind and helped me get ready for school because it talked about different subjects.
Anthony: Yeah, other kids should join because it is where you learn about materials and how to use them.
Jonathan: Other kids should do Family Engineering Academy because science is cool.
Alicia Boards, Addisyn's mother, shared her experiences as a parent and participant.
I feel as if the Family Engineering Academy was a great early exposure to age-appropriate STEM concepts. I liked how the activities showed various aspects of STEM while also allowing my daughter to have fun and engage in everyday concepts that she could relate to.
Even as a parent, I enjoyed engaging in some of the activities with my daughter. I also found it helpful for us to work together in building or trying to figure out how to do the activity for the day. I appreciated the time we spent together and sharing in this experience.
Yes, because it was a low stakes, but enriching opportunity for young kids to participate in over the summer. I think it is important for [kids to have] these hands-on opportunities that are age appropriate and related back to their own lived experiences as a way to see STEM as a future interest or career path later down the road.
More specifically, it is a great way to also engage students who do not come from a home or family with STEM background or exposure. As a parent, we can only share what we know or things from our own path unless there are opportunities like the Family Engineering Academy for our kiddos to partake in!
Featured image at top: Anthony and Jonathan Guy show off their straw tower. Photo/Sheva Guy
