STEM Education
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Where will the US find talent to build future national defense systems? Along with technical benefits to commercial interests, so called, STEM Education is often considered a national security priority.
What will it take for our society to encourage young people to pursue a career based on science, engineering, technology, or the foundational discipline, mathematics? There is a shortage in students interested in STEM careers, especially among minority groups such as women and persons of color.
How do teachers inspire students to have an interest and embrace an education in areas of STEM? Many students simply fail to see a connection between what they learn in the classroom and what they find in the real world. The answer is simple: Introduce the element of competition!
Since 2014, we have been involved in a unique and effective STEM initiative, high-school solar go-kart engineering competitions, first at Florida Gulf Coast University and later in Appalachia (northeast Tennessee and southern Virginia).
Below you will find links to six videos highlighting the annual culmination of the initiative, high-school solar go-kart races. While these videos reveal the basic nature of these events, the most exciting statements are those expressed by the high school students involved.
High School Solar Go-Kart Competitions
Statements made by students involved with these solar go-kart competitions:
- And it was a great honor to actually be here, ‘cause it’s something really cool to do.
- High school teams compete to see who’s got the better engineering skills.
- I loved working with my teammates. School ended at 1:35, and we stayed ‘till 9:00 sometimes, just working on the kart.
- It’s a great learning experience.
- Hopefully we’ll be able to do it again next year!
- It was a blast!
- It was just a good communication builder and good hands-on activity.
- It’s been a really good learning education for all of us.
- We’re going to bring it big, is what we’re going to do, and we’re going to win! We didn’t build this thing to lose.
Florida
Appalachia
Please contact us for information on how to start your own STEM solar go-kart program.