CAMP RECAP

Again this summer, Auburn Engineering faculty members hosted camps that introduce K-12 students to various engineering fields, as well as encourage them to pursue careers in engineering at Auburn.

ENGINEERING 101
Teams and Individuals Guided by Engineering Resources (TIGERs) camps provided students in grades 7-10 with an introduction into the world of engineering. The camps educated students about each engineering department at Auburn through workshops, tours, hands-on activities and lectures guided by engineers and engineering students. They also discussed courses to prepare middle and high school students for success in college.

DOMO ARIGATO, MRS. ROBOTO
Daniela Marghitu, faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, directed two successful camps again this summer: Robo Camp, which she created in 2007 to encourage K-12 students to increase their computer literacy, and the Computer Literacy Academy (CLA), which has helped more than 150 children learn about computers and the Internet since 2005.

Robo campers built a platform for problemor project-based learning and integrated knowledge from many disciplines, including mathematics, science, social studies, English and art. They learned advanced computer concepts and hands-on applications of computer programming and robotics. Marghitu’s CLA campers learned to browse, navigate and search the Web, as well as how to use Microsoft Office 2007 – including Word, Excel and Power Point. They also learned more sophisticated functions such as designing and publishing a Web page and programming computers.

TINIEST LITTLE CAMP
Because it has only recently grown into a field of study, K-12 students typically have little access to lessons on nanotechnology and the control of matter on a molecular scale. As a part of the College of Sciences and Mathematics’ summer Youth Experiences in Sciences (Y.E.S.) program, Virginia Davis, faculty member in the Department of Chemical Engineering, once again offered a nanotechnology camp to help students explore current innovations in nanotechnology, spark their interests in engineering and science and encourage them to pursue a career in science, math, technology or engineering. Davis’ camp introduces and teaches how nanotechnology can be used in everyday life.