K-12 Outreach

STEM opportunity for middle and high school teachers

Ohio Northern University was recently awarded an eTech Teacher Planning Grant for Middle and High School Math, Science, and Technology teachers. We began the program by hosting 30 teachers from Hardin, Hancock, Allen, Wyandot, Marion, Auglaize, Shelby, Logan and Putnam Counties in a one week workshop integrating technology and engineering concepts into the classroom.  Click here for further information.  

Engineer Your Life

The Ohio Northern University College of Engineering is a member of the Engineer Your Life (EYL) coalition, a group of organizations that are committed to repositioning engineering as an exciting and rewarding career choice for young women.   Find out why you should consider engineering as a career by exploring the EYL website at:  http://engineeryourlife.org/

TEAMS

Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) is an interscholastic competition that helps to prepare students for tomorrow’s world – today. Students learn how the math and science concepts they are learning in high school are applied to real-world problems. The TEAMS program encourages tomorrow’s engineers to work cooperatively and think critically. Awards are given at the local, state, and national level. TEAMS is sponsored nationally by The Technology Student Association (TSA). TSA is a national, non-profit organization of middle and high school students who have a strong interest in technology. TSA was chartered in 1978 and since then over 2,000,000 students have participated in its program. Members learn through challenging competitions, leadership activities and community service. Information is available at www.tsaweb.org.

ONU has been a local host for the TEAMS competition annually since 1987. We currently rank in the top 10 competition sites annually for the number of participants; with approximately 25 school districts and almost 500 students involved in the competition each year. In addition to the testing facilities, ONU sponsors a portion of each school's competition fees and provides lunch.

For more information, contact Peg Hibbard at p-hibbard@onu.edu or 419-772-2370.

Engineering Pathways

This camp for students entering their sophomore or junior year in the fall is part of the ONU Summer Honors Institute.  Hands-on activities will give students in this course an understanding of three basic engineering fields: civil engineering, electrical/computer engineering and mechanical engineering.  Classroom and laboratory activities will include application and use of strain gauges, tensile testing of metals and use of programmable logic controllers.  Students will have the opportunity to compare computer generated theoretical data to experimental data taken in a wind tunnel, experiment with closed loop control systems and write a program using the Java programming language.  Field trips will be taken to enhance student knowledge of engineering and encourage students to interact with practicing engineers.

For more information, contact Prof. Laurie Laird at l-laird@onu.edu.

Camp GEMS

Camp GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science) is a summer camp designed to develop interest, excitement and self-confidence in young women entering grades 7 or 8 in the fall.  This 4 day, residential camp for 48-64 young women is typically held at the end of July.  The camp features hands-on activities in math, science, engineering and computers.  A class ratio of 8-12 students per teacher is emphasized to encourage maximum interaction and instruction.  The camp is designed for the all-around student, not just those who excel academically.

Campers will have the opportunity to meet other girls from Ohio, gain self-confidence through hands-on activities and experiments while enjoying other camp activities such as a scavenger hunt, swimming and sports.  Most important will be the girls’ opportunity to associate with camp counselors who are students at Ohio Northern University majoring in engineering, pharmacy, math or the sciences.  These mentors will help the girls assess their own values, set goals, and give them first-hand knowledge of career opportunities.

The camp also offers many all-camp activities such as swimming and tennis. All sleeping, eating and instructional activities are located on the campus of Ohio Northern University.

For more information, contact Prof. Laurie Laird at l-laird@onu.edu or explore the camp website at http://campgems.onu.edu

Explorers

The purpose of Engineering Exploring is to provide the youth of America the opportunity to look into the world of engineering as a career choice and to participate in engineering activities.  This is accomplished through community organizations that can provide an effective Exploring program.  Engineering Explorer posts are involved in a variety of programs and projects featuring training, skill development, and service projects and are supported by such organizations as the National Society of Professional Engineers and local industries and universities.

The T.J. Smull College of Engineering is currently working with the Explorer Post located in Findlay, OH and works with this post three to four times per year to provide on-campus activities and learning opportunities for young adults.

For more information, contact Dr. Eric Baumgartner at e-baumgartner@onu.edu.