Youth Motivation and Interests in STEM | STELAR - STEM Learning and Research Center

Interest-driven STEM Learning among Youth through a Social Networking Site

Publications

Engaging middle school youth in STEM curricula resulting in desired conceptual changes is challenging. Furthermore, social media are identified as platforms where youth naturally congregate for sustained interaction. Studio STEM was designed as an after school programme to engage learners (ages 11–15) in design-based science inquiry within a studio environment, enhanced by social media and digital tools. In the highlighted curriculum, Save the Penguins, youth performed scientific experiments and engineering practices to design an enclosure to protect penguin-shaped ice cubes from rising

Interest-Driven Learning Among Middle School Youth in an Out-of-School STEM Studio

Publications

The concept of connected learning proposes that youth leverage individual interest and social media to drive learning with an academic focus. To illustrate, we present in-depth case studies of Ryan and Sam, two middle-school-age youth, to document an out-of-school intervention intended to direct toward intentional learning in STEM that taps interest and motivation. The investigation focused on how Ryan and Sam interacted with the designed elements of Studio STEM and whether they became more engaged to gain deeper learning about science concepts related to energy sustainability. The

Working underwater: Bay’s ROV team in action

16 May, 2014 News

It’s not every day that you drive underwater; in early May, seven Bay students did just that, operating a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) at the M.A.T.E. Monterey Bay Regional ROV Contest in Aptos. Returning to the competition for the first time since 2009, Bay’s team competed in the most advanced division of the competition, the RANGER class.

Cheldelin students plunge into underwater robotics

24 April, 2014 News

Cheldelin Middle School students hold a practice session with their underwater robots at Vineyard Mountain Swim Club on Friday, April 18, 2014. The students are preparing for a competition with a robot that performs a series of tasks related to shipwrecks.

LBCC ROV Team Rises from the Depths

20 February, 2014 News

From spare parts, very little money and great innovation, the Remotely Operated Vehicle team created an underwater, unmanned, robotic operated vehicle. This year’s team will once again face off against large universities and private colleges at the 13th annual M.A.T.E. competition. Marine Advanced Technology Education (M.A.T.E.) first creates a declaration of need. The team then creates a bid, backed by support to show how they can complete the

Lincoln City: students to showcase underwater robots at LC Community Center during statewide competition

29 April, 2014 News

More than 150 elementary, middle, high, and college students formed 27 teams and brought their underwater robots to the Lincoln City Community Center on May 10 to compete in the annual Oregon Regional MATE Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) contest. These teams, which spent the past few months designing and building their underwater vehicles, will be among students around the world participating in 23 regional contests supported by the Marine

Carrollton High School Wins GRNMS Southeast Regional ROV Competition

Publications

An unknown shipwreck waited at the bottom of the Olympic-sized pool for teams to explore and identify in March at Gray’s Reef Southeast Regional MATE ROV Competition. Engaging students and educators with technology and research methods employed by NOAA field scientists is the reason that National Marine Sanctuaries partner with the California based Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center. With annual pool missions that reflect the science of the Sanctuaries, MATE challenges student teams to design and build a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and embark on a flight path to the

Future ROV Designers to be Found at the Center 2013 International Underwater ROV Competition

Publications

2013 was the 12th year the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center at Monterey Peninsula College has held this competition. Their goal in doing so was to increase awareness of marine technical fields and careers. Their efforts connect students and educators with employers and working professionals. The ROV competition is a big event, but it is not all they do. Their workshops provide educators with resources and training to bring the world of marine technology, research, exploration and industry to their classrooms.

Local ROV team still a global force

02 July, 2014 News

The combined robotics team of Ozaukee and Oostburg high schools was the leader during much of the international Marine Advanced Technology Education challenge held last week at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan. Ultimately, ZO3 Robotics finished fourth in the Ranger Division of the global competition. During the competition, teams used submersible robots of their own design to recover samples and data from simulated

Students learn about engineering in remotely operated vehicle competition

30 March, 2014 News

Teams from six Milwaukee area high schools and five middle schools were challenged to design, build and operate an ROV to identify an unknown shipwreck recently discovered in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary waters, collect microbial samples and remove trash and debris from the shipwreck and surrounding area, in a “Remotely Operated Vehicle Competition" in Milwalkee, Wisconsin. Eventually, the hope is that these students want to take

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