Among some of the schools that FLATE serves as mentor is the
James Madison Middle School (MMS) in Tampa, FL. MMS opened in 1952 and is
recognized as a leader in STEM education in Hillsborough County. The school
prides itself in designing enriching and engaging curriculum that takes
students on a “learning adventure” focused on applying key engineering skills
that are critical to problem-solving and developing higher order thinking
skills. During 2008 J. Madison Middle school was selected to host, on behalf of
Hillsborough County Schools, the Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math -
STEM Aerospace Engineering Academy with a
strong focus on leadership skills. Part of J. Madison Middle School’s
success can be attributed to its successful strategy in formulating key
mentorships/partnership with industry and education institution like FLATE (the
Florida-based National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence for
technological education). This strategic mentorship offers real educational
opportunities for students to interact with top professionals in different STEM
fields.
To support some of its STEM based initiatives, J. Madison
Middle School also created the “Ghost Riders STEM Institute”, now referred to
as the “STEM Aerospace Engineering Academy”, and has recently started the 8th
grade capstone project which involves the development and creation of an
innovative product over the period of the whole year. Each student group is
mentored by an "expert professional" in the field. These
professionals, or experts, would help them complete their projects with their guidance. Meetings with mentors are performed via phone,
emails, and video provide each group with the proper direction for the creation
of their product.
Each group is to develop a company and create a plan to
introduce a product to the market. A product that will be presented to a panel
of judges, like the TV show Shark Tank. Products are to address current
environmental issues, solve problems with waste and inefficiency, meet the
increasing demand for power, make lives safer and healthier, etc.
Dr. Marilyn Barger and Danielly Orozco, Principal
Investigator and Associate Director of FLATE, are currently part of the
mentor/expert professionals program for the 8th grade capstone project. Daniel
Mills is the lead instructor of Madison Middle's STEM
Aerospace Engineering Academy. For more information on the list of the 2018 8th
Grade students’ Capstone project please visit http://tinyurl.com/madisoncapstone17 or contact Daniel
Mills at daniel.mills@sdhc.k12.fl.us.
Middleton HS Engineering Capstone Final Projects: “Project
Lead the Way” - Pathways to Engineering
Engineering Capstone Project- Lead The Way
(PLTW), another project supported by FLATE, provides a comprehensive approach
to STEM Education. Through activity, projects, and problem-based curriculum,
PLTW gives students in high school a chance to apply what they know, identify
problems, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning. The
implementation of this program provides tools to empower students and transform
the classroom into a collaboration space where content comes to life.
Currently
Middleton HS is recruiting judges of this pre-engineering design event, the
objective is to constructively critique and evaluate the projects. This type of
event is a great opportunity to promote STEM and Engineering Technology
targeting high school students.
When:
May 4th, 2018 - 8 am—11am morning session, 1:30—3:00 afternoon session
What:
Morning—Gallery Walk of all Senior Capstone Projects
Where:
Morning session Cafeteria, Afternoon session auditorium
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