STUDENTS TAKE
ENGINEERING ON THE ROAD
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I hear and I forget;
I see and I remember; I do and I understand. Discovery
Western (DW) bases their Elementary School Workshops and
Summer Camps on this motto to prove engineering doesn’t have
to be just about numbers and formulas; it can also be a fun
and interactive learning experience too.
Currently in its 16th
year of operation, DW is a student run, not-for-profit
organization that promotes awareness of science, engineering
and technology to young people. From May to June, a team of
energetic undergraduate engineering students travel to
elementary schools in the London area to encourage students
to explore the realms of engineering, science and
technology.
“We look at the
Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum and create
workshops that meet government standards and excite the
students,” says DW co-director, Curtis Cleaver. “This year
we added a manufacturing workshop at the request of the
teachers and the students.”
Elementary schools
can choose between six workshop choices; each designed for
30 students and take half a day to complete. The workshops
include: Super structures and mechanisms; Larger than life
systems; Pneumatically hydraulic; Magnificent manufacturing;
Fundamentals of flight; and Lego my robolab. |
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“The Lego lab is by far
our most popular workshop,” adds Natalie Merner, DW’s other
co-director. “This workshop is held on campus, and lasts all
day. Most schools come as part of their end of year trip.”
DW continues their
learning experience into the summer months with an Engineering
and Science Summer Camp. The camp offers students in grades 3 –
10 an opportunity to participate in design projects,
experiments, demonstrations, computer projects and outdoor
activities. The camps are one week in length and run from July
4 – August 26.
The entire DW program is
student run; including the development of classroom and camp
workshops. “We update our workshops every year to ensure repeat
campers aren’t going through the same curriculum year after
year,” says Curtis. “Updating our workshops yearly also
guarantees our programs are meeting the needs of today’s
students and campers.”
Discovery Western is
proud to be a member of Actua. Actua provides training,
resources and support to a national network of local
organizations offering science and technology education
programs.
For more information,
please visit
www.discoverywestern.com.
