USING INNOVATIVE THEMES TO INCREASE INTEREST IN K-12 STEM STUDIES

Academic institutions are finding that creating and maintaining a student's interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) during the secondary school years is critically important.Combined experience from an engineering career and a teaching career has led to the authors developing and piloting some new approaches to accomplish this.Results are included from a unique summer enrichment program for students from a large urban school system.The students involved were predominantly minority, were all from low socio-economic status households, and were roughly evenly divided between male and female.These students represent a demographic cross-section that is in short supply in STEM fields today.The month long program took the approach of connecting real world applications of simple engineering concepts to the basic skills necessary to analyze those concepts.The results have been very positive in terms of improvement in skills necessary for success in engineering careers.Equally importantly, there was improvement in the students' interest in STEM careers and an increased self-confidence in their ability to succeed in such careers.This paper will present both quantitative and qualitative results documenting the improvement in both skills and attitudes.Additionally there will be an explanation of one of the more unique and interesting modules created, which involved a very unique engineering-type design project derived from motorsports engineering.Few career paths are as dynamic, exciting and engaging to STEM students as those in motorsports.Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), which offers the first Bachelor's Degree in Motorsports engineering in the United States, has found motorsports to be an excellent mechanism for attracting STEM students.This article will discuss how IUPUI has used this connection to promote STEM growth.