A record number of pre-university educators gathered at the annual IEEE STEM Summit in October; IEEE Volunteers; and science, technology, engineering and math enthusiasts. They shared resources and ideas and attended sessions to learn how to inspire the next generation of aspiring engineers and technologists.
Held on October 23-25, the free virtual summit attracted more than 1,000 participants from 118 countries. The 13 sessions featured award-winning educators and IEEE volunteers from academia and industry who offered practical advice on planning effective and engaging outreach activities.
The session highlighted best practices in STEM education as well as examples of outreach events. Also included was a discussion on productive failure, the importance of encouraging young people to embrace the iterative process of engineering – which involves learning from failure.
Additional sessions introduced participants to TryEngineering resources. TryEngineering, IEEE’s educational activities program, focuses on STEM outreach. Provides free lesson plans, activities and other resources for educators to use in their classrooms and community activities. Students’ interest in STEM careers can be stimulated by introducing them to new technologies and how they work.
Why STEM Summit?
The IEEE STEM Summit was organized and hosted by the IEEE Educational Activities Pre-College Coordinating Committee. Its mission is to promote educational outreach to school-aged children around the world by providing IEEE educators and volunteers with inspiration for engaging activities. The Coordinating Committee provides resources and services through the TryEngineering program and encourages the sharing of ideas and best practices among educators and volunteers.
“We are so excited about the continued growth of the IEEE STEM Summit,” says Jamie Moesch, executive director of IEEE Educational Activities. “The event provides an opportunity for this growing community to collaborate, strengthen their own efforts and learn from others who share their passion.”
Engaging speakers
Thomas Coughlin, president of IEEE 2024, and Rabab Ward, vice president of IEEE Educational Activities, opened the event. Coughlin spoke about the opportunities for students at IEEE and encouraged attendees to get involved in local STEM outreach efforts. Ward emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for students to engage in engineering activities and meet practicing engineers.
The summit featured three keynote speakers and several panel sessions.
Speaking about productive failure, Eleftheria Kallinikou, a psychologist affiliated with the University of Ioannina in Greece, said it was important to teach students how to solve problems as a way to explore engineering while boosting their confidence.
Burt Dicht, member of the Preuniversity Coordinating Committee and director of membership for the National Space Society, interviewed Barbara Morgan, a former NASA astronaut and educator at Boise State University in Idaho. During her From Classroom to Space: A Journey of Education and Exploration session, Morgan talked about her reaction to seeing Earth from space. She also discussed the role of teachers in inspiring students.
Stacy Klein-Gardner, Executive Director of Engineering 4 Us All, presented An Inclusive Engineering Mindset: K–12, which discussed programs that introduce students to engineering as a creative process and in which students develop their identities as problem solvers.
Lorena Garcia, past chair of the IEEE Preuniversity Coordinating Committee (PECC), who is an ABET member and director of the IEEE Foundation, moderated the global IEEE member panel. They shared tips on how to inspire young people with STEM activities like the bionic bus and some hands-on activities that could be incorporated into after-school programs.
During the panel session Unlocking Potential: How Key Partnerships Fuel Technology Innovation, Michael Geselowitz, Senior Director of the IEEE History Center, joined Stamatis Dragoumanos, PECC Chair, and IEEE staff to discuss how partnerships enable IEEE to amplify its impact. For example, collaborations with Keysight and Onsemi led to new TryEngineering lesson plans. Resources from the IEEE REACH History Center program introduce TryEngineering users to the history of technology and its impact on society.
Several sessions featured people who have successfully implemented STEM programs, including a Canadian high school teacher, a Malaysian professor, and a Kenyan university student.
To close the summit, TryEngineering’s updated website was unveiled. New features include an improved search function; resources centered around a particular technology, such as semiconductors and oceans; and an interactive global map showing IEEE STEM activities. Lesson plans, news and highlights about the TryEngineering STEM and STEM Champions grants are now easier to find on the website.
Visit TryEngineering.org for resources to help you in your work and inspire the next generation of engineers.
Previous editions of the IEEE STEM Summit can be viewed on the IEEE TryEngineering YouTube channel.
The summit was financially supported by the IEEE Foundation, TryEngineering’s philanthropic partner. To support future summits and the entire TryEngineering program, visit the IEEE TryEngineering Fund donation page.