Project Partner Panel Eva Rodriguez – Works at Ludlow Animal Clinic and is a project partner to EPICS students at Agawam High School in Massachusetts. Rachael Nickel – Is the Director of Education and Exhibits at The Terre Haute Childrens Museum in southern Indiana and is a project partner to the Purdue University EPICS program.

 EPICS is a design-based, service learning program that teaches students about engineering, computing, and technology fields while civically engaging them in their local communities. In the EPICS programs teams of students work on projects to address the engineering and technology- based needs of community service and education organizations.

 Service – students participate in service for the underserved in a community  Academically-based – reinforces or connects with the subject material of the academic course  Reciprocity – Mutual needs, mutual learning  Reflection (Analysis, metacognition) – Students reflect (analyze) on their experience and learning

 Analytical skills  Practical ingenuity  Creativity  Communication & teamwork skills  Business & management skills  Professionalism  Leadership, including bridging public policy and technology  Dynamism/agility/resilience/flexibility  Lifelong learners

 80% of high school seniors entering college participated in community service or service-learning ◦ Female and minority students more inclined to continue service ◦ Many honors diplomas require service  Service-learning in high schools rarely connected with engineering/science/math  EPICS provides an opportunity to tap into this wave of volunteerism

 EPICS programs at 20 universities  33 High schools in 6 states ◦ California, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Texas New – EPICS High Programs in South Africa!

 33 Schools Participating  1875 Student Participants  42% Female Participants  37% Underrepresented Participants  Over 253,000 people positively effected by EPICS High projects! Included in the mission of the EPICS High program is outreach to underrepresented populations. Reports from schools in October 2009 show the following impact:

◦ Human Services  Examples: Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, Local Food Banks ◦ Access & Abilities  Examples: Special Needs Students in Schools, Local Organizations for Handicap or Disabled Residents ◦ Environmental  Examples: State Environmental Depts., Recycling groups ◦ Education & Outreach  Examples: Feeder Elem. Or Middle Schools, Local Children’s Museums

Frederick Douglass Academy, NY  Desktop Aquaponics This project will train students to build indoor desktop aquaponics systems by teaching students about basic design, instrumentation, and project execution. Students who become proficient will be sent to maintain systems that have been built by previous EPICS students in the school and in a local senior center. Pleasant Grove High School, CA  Stone Lake Preserve Kiosk Pleasant Grove created an educational kiosk for the Stone lake wildlife preserve, as well as starting an after-school Robotics Club at a local elementary school.

McCutcheon High School, IN  Guidance Department ESL Assistant Software Computers give a welcome message Spanish speakers. The menu allows parents/students to select from options including: enrollment, withdrawal, and frequently asked questions. Forms completed by users then revert to English for counselors and school use Harbor Beach School, Michigan  Computerized Food Pantry Inventory Project Students are working with all food pantries in county to sep up a computerized inventory system for tracking food items and customer information

 Designed for flexibility  Great deal of input from EPICS High teachers  Consists of the following 5 modules that address 1 central topic per week: 1. Design 2. Service Learning 3. Cultural Context and Ethics 4. Teamwork 5. Communication Listed in the curriculum are 3 sections within each module that state learning objectives, national academic standards, and 45 lesson plans 

 Affordable...NO FEE to become an EPICS High!  Encourage long-term partnerships within your community and across the EPICS high network  Engage students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields  Teach students the professional skills needed to succeed  Teacher training that gives schools the tools to run an EPICS High program  Network of schools across the country  Flexible EPICS High Curriculum developed to lead teachers in facilitating EPICS  Web tools and resources  Gives students access to experts in local community organizations, businesses and companies  Products offered to EPICS schools from program partners

 Teachers and/or a school administrators to attend an EPICS High training  Mentors for High Schools to add engineering and other expertise to compliment teachers  Limited funds to purchase project materials  Community Partners in need of projects to help them serve the public (ex: Habitat for Humanity, Local Middle and Elementary Schools, and a City Parks Department)  Students who enjoy hands-on projects and want to learn important professional skills

EPICS has the potential to play a role in addressing many current issues including:  Declining interest in Engineering/Computing  Continued underrepresentation of women and minorities  Drop out rates  Improving STEM education  Global competitiveness  Building capacity in communities and schools  Compelling needs of underserved populations

EPICS High continues to bring together the resources to have programs in every state and internationally too! We need your help……  Our goal is for all EPICS High classes to be within the school day and the school’s curriculum  We continue to establish schools as modes for implementation  How could EPICS fit into the curriculum in your state?  Are there grants we could collaborate on and apply for? EPICS has the capacity to take the lead on grant writing.

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