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The
Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (SMET) Program
The Science, Math, Engineering and Technology (SMET) program was
initiated in the summer of 2000 with the goal of stimulating interest
in math and science in students, particularly students from underrepresented
groups, in grades K-8. The SMET program is a cooperative effort
of industry, engineering societies, school districts, community,
and K-8 teachers of language arts, social studies, math, science,
and technology. Currently IDEAS is working with the Society
of Automotive Engineers (SAE), A World in
Motion Program (AWIM), the Society
of Women Engineers (SWE), Women
in Science and Engineering (WISE), and the Girl
Scouts of America (GSA) on projects seeking to stimulate interest
in math and science in students.
SMET
Core Activities
There are eight core activities that contribute to the success
of the SMET program:
- Supply
hands-on design projects with inquiry-based learning
- Provide
teachers with project hardware and curriculum materials
- Identify
and screen volunteers to aid teachers in the classroom
- Train
volunteers to support classroom teachers
- Train
teachers in the physical sciences and principles of engineering
- Provide
teachers/students with recognition/incentives/rewards
- Supply
web site for communication between teachers, volunteers, and IDEAS
- Evaluate
progress of students, teachers, and volunteers
Through
the generosity of the SAE Foundation, the Institute has placed over
$55,000 worth of AWIM project hardware and curriculum materials
into 90 classrooms in North Texas. The General
Motors Corporation has provided funding to support the identification,
screening, and training of volunteers to support teachers in the
classroom.
SMET
Advisory Board
The SMET Advisory Board, composed of individuals who work with
K-12 education and issues associated with underrepresented groups,
provides IDEAS with guidance on how to best improve SMET education
for our K-12 students.
Lorton
Trent, P.E.
Vice Chair for Math and Science K-12,
Texas
Section, SAE
Sherrie Prague, Ph. D., Science Coordinator,
Irving Independent
School District
Kathy Hargrove, Ph. D., Director of Teacher Education,
Southern Methodist University
Kent Waldrep, CEO,
Kent Waldrep National
Paralysis Foundation
SMET
Dean's Circle
The
members of the Dean's Circle represent the regional universities'
perspectives on the engineering pipeline problem.
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A World
in Motion (AWIM) Poster
Members
of the Dean's Circle provide IDEAS with suggestions and ideas on
how to develop programs that best promote SMET education to our
K-12 students in the region.
Warren W. Burggren, Ph.D.,
Dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences,
University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
Bill D. Carroll, Ph. D.,
Dean of the College of
Engineering,
University of Texas at Arlington,
Arlington, Texas
Michael D. McCracken, Ph. D.,
Dean of the College of
Science and Engineering, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth,
Texas
William P. Osbourne, Ph. D.,
Dean of the Erik Jonsson
School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Texas
at Dallas,
Richardson, Texas
Stephen A. Szygenda, Ph. D.,
Dean of the School of Engineering,
Southern Methodist University,
Dallas, Texas
Getting
Involved
If you are a
- Teacher,
school, or school district wishing to participate in the program
- Volunteer
wishing to support the teachers in the classroom
- Corporation
wishing to support the SMET program with financial support and/or
volunteers
- Community
organization wishing to participate
Please
contact IDEAS
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