FREE Workshop- Engineers as Educators

In my work with AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), we offer a FREE workshop called Engineers as Educators.  Engineers as Educators is a community outreach workshop designed to help our Professional Members learn how to work with K-12 students (in formal or informal settings).  Please note- You do not need to be an AIAA member to attend.

Here's the workshop description:

When a paratrooper pulls that rip cord, what’s on his mind? Calculations about acceleration, speed, load capacity, and gravity? Probably not.

To you, these calculations are elementary. But to the elementary student, parachuting is ‘AWESOME’ and the formulas behind it are complicated. How can you bridge that gap?

Make that leap. Pull that educator rip cord within you and share with students your knowledge as an aerospace professional. 

AIAA will teach you to inspire students about the marvels of aerospace engineering. Share your passion in a manner students can relate to. Register now for the Engineers as Educators Workshop and you’ll walk away armed with the tools to help you plan and execute powerful experiences and excite the next generation of engineers.
Learn how to:

• Connect your work to classroom objectives
• Plan memorable experiences
• Use simple and clear vocabulary
• Engage students with hands-on experiences

And the fine details:
Who: Everyone (You do not need to be an AIAA member to attend)
What: AIAA Engineers as Educators Workshop (includes lunch)
When: Saturday September 7, 2013 from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM PDT 
Where:  Kirkland Library Meeting Room, 308 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, WA 98033
Why: To learn activities, tips and tricks that you can use when working with K-12 students

The workshop is completely FREE, but you must register in advance. You can use the link above or click here to register.  If you're in the greater Seattle area, we'd love to see you there! 

STEM Workshops for Kids

In the fall, I will be partnering up with one of our local community colleges to offer STEM workshops for kids:

Discover STEM!  is a workshop designed for 6-9 year-olds that encourages students to discover and explore the possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  In this hands-on workshop, students work collaboratively to design creative solutions for real-life challenges while practicing 21^st century skills and learning critical thinking and problem solving skills.   Offered: Saturday, Oct 5, CCEC- Everett; or Saturday, Oct 12, CCEC- Bothell

Discover STEM: Engineering is a workshop designed for 8-12 year-olds that encourages students to discover and explore the possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  In this hands-on workshop, students will focus on the Engineering Design Process work collaboratively to design creative solutions for real-life challenges. Offered: Saturday, Oct 19, CCEC- Everett; or Saturday, Oct 26, CCEC- Bothell

If you're in the Greater Seattle area and would like for your children to attend, visit the Everett Community College site for more information!

STEM Teacher Workshop- August 7

One of the projects I'm involved with right now is a very cool STEM curriculum module with the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics).

Throughout this curriculum module,  students in grades 6-12 work to design, build, and fly an airplane that will carry the maximum amount of cargo.  Student teams compete by weighing their planes with and without cargo and testing their designs on a tethered power pole. Throughout the challenge, students use the engineering design process to redesign their airplanes to see which team's plane can carry the maximum amount.

On August 7, The Pacific Northwest Section of AIAA is hosting a teacher workshop to share this curriculum with teachers and help them to design, build and fly their own planes.  Teachers who participate will be provided with a copy of the curriculum, lunch and the supplies to build their own plane.  Teachers can then take their airplanes back to their classrooms to inspire and engage their students. Once the curriculum is taught to students and they build their own planes, they will be invited to our capstone event to compete with students from other schools and districts.

If you are a teacher, administrator, outreach professional or anyone else who works with kids in the Seattle area, this is something you should consider attending.  Formal and informal educators are welcome!  If you'd like to join us for a fun day of engineering and aerospace, you can register here.

Exploring STEM Careers- Summer Workshop for KIDS!

This summer, one of the organizations I'm partnering with to offer STEM camps for kids is L & E Academy in Kirkland.  L & E is a personalized high school for kids in grades 8-12 that specializes in leadership, entrepreneurship and STEM. I'm so excited to partner with them to offer workshops to kids who want to exercise their STEM muscles this summer!

Our STEM camp this year will focus on incoming 6th-9th grade students. Offered twice this summer, STEM Camp will focus on the exploration of different STEM related careers:

Exploring STEM Careers

Explore different STEM careers through hands-on, high-interest activities!  In this workshop students will:

• Explore STEM careers to help identify interests and assist students in deciding what career to pursue after high school or college
• Participate in engaging projects that hone and develop STEM skills
• Work with a team to devise solutions to real-life problems 
• Develop 21st Century skills to be successful in school and the workforce

Registration for each camp is $210 per student. To register, please visit:

Register for the L & E Academy STEM Camp for June 23-26 from 9am-12pm
Register for the L & E Academy STEM Camp for August 18- 21 from 9am- 12pm