A recent four million dollar grant award project funded by the U.S. Department of Education will bring new opportunities for an estimated 2,680 Alaska Native Students in engineering education over the next four years. The collaborative project between Kawerak Inc and NACTEC was pursued based on students’ low performance in math and science in the region; nearly 90% of students fall below proficiency in these areas. Since STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers are rapidly growing and include high earnings, our students need better.
Building a knowledge base and appreciation for engineering at an early age instills confidence in students to problem solve as adults. Take a moment to think about your interests now as an adult, and the areas in which you are skilled in and excel; those can probably be traced back to early childhood memories. STEM education sparks creativity and learning in the world around you. “Our youngest learners are natural born engineers, of which their creative boundaries are limitless,” says NACTEC Director Doug Walrath. “This project capitalizes on the creative abilities and energies of young learners who will be exploring hands-on learning activities and thereby gaining a deeper understanding of math and science concepts.”
The project will infuse engineering opportunities into classrooms at the Pre-K to senior level. The intent is to have college and career ready students to tackle today’s top jobs, and understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow through hands-on and relevant real world learning. To do this, four teachers will travel the region delivering an Engineering is Elementary curriculum which will help students apply the engineering design process to real world problems.
NACTEC plans to provide both in-school and after school programs, Family STEM Night programs, and summer camps in rural village schools; as well as dual credit opportunities, post-secondary preparation/assessments and variable term residential program options in Nome and Anchorage.
Kawerak and NACTEC have most recently enjoyed a successful collaboration developing the aviation pathways training program with a focus on students in grades 7-12. We are excited for this new effort to reach even younger students. It will require a huge undertaking and partnership success not only between Kawerak and NACTEC, but also BSSD, NPS, ANSEP and UAF.
