What is STEM SEALs?
A National Science Foundation funded research project to develop engaging, age appropriate STEM design learning experiences for rural middle school youth. Its purpose is to create collaborative partnerships between school level, college level, and STEM professionals to promote greater awareness of STEM pathways, increase readiness for STEM post-secondary study, and to generate student identity as STEM-able, STEM-skilled, and STEM-belonging. One of the project’s goals is to produce relevant STEM design challenge modules for historically under served students in high poverty, and rural areas. The research is performed over a time period of three years and involves a collaborative team including area teachers in a design phase, review phase, and implementation phase which is a camp-like Summer Institute that brings middle school students to campus to take part in STEM design challenges.
What does STEM SEALs stand for?
STEM : Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math
SEALs : Sea, Air, and Land remotely operated vehicle design challenges
What are the STEM SEALs Design Challenges?
The STEM SEALs Design Challenges are learning modules focusing on SEA, AIR, and LAND. The challenges involve ROVs (robotic operating vehicles), unmanned aerial systems (drones), and autonomous ground vehicles and boats. The Design Challenge Summer Institutes gives middle school students hands-on experiences in STEM utilizing electric motors, sensors, microprocessors, coding, collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking all culminating with a competitive challenge on the last day where students can demonstrate their designs and skills.
The STEM SEALs Research Project gratefully acknowledges funding support from the National Science Foundation and Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Madison, FL.
