Development of a Model Middle School Engineering Club

This paper provides a description of a service learning program developed in 2009 that focuses on creating engineering clubs for elementary school students.Villanova Community Action by New Engineers, NovaCANE, was established with the initial membership limited to graduate students and upperclassmen interested in structural engineering.In the inaugural year the goal of the organization was to inspire young minds by offering hands-on educational opportunities in the fields of engineering and science.To this end a group of 14 active members and the faculty advisor initiated and ran an engineering club for sixth grade students at an inner city, Catholic, elementary school.The club met on a monthly basis at their school.The engineering topics covered included stability, brittle and ductile behavior, connections, earthquakes and energy, bridges, foundations, and structural materials.Activities included a newspaper cross, gum-drop dome, popsicle stick bridge, ginger bread house subjected to an earthquake simulation, egg-drop competition, timber bridge construction, concrete batching, and testing of concrete and steel specimens.The year ended with a field trip to Villanova University's campus and Structural Engineering Teaching and Research Laboratory.Learning outcomes were developed for the club and learning outcomes were developed for each activity.Each meeting started with a 10-15 minute presentation on a structural engineering topic, and was followed with a 50-60 minute hands-on activity.In the second year of this program, NovaCANE membership will be expanded to other engineering disciplines and underclassmen, and one new middle school will be added.The 6th grade engineering club will continue with a focus on structural engineering, while an additional 7th grade club will be formed that explores elements of water resources, environmental engineering, sustainability, and chemical engineering.The methodology of program development, specific activities, and service learning aspects are discussed herein.