Middle School Teacher Staff Positions

Three middle school teachers from Massachusetts work with the campers during their daytime hours (9am to 5pm), and are invited to participate in whatever evening or weekend activities they are interested in. They participate in staff training to become familiar with the engineering design process as we teach it to young girls.

They (and three high school students) are assigned to assist one team of ten campers as they work to complete their Engineering Design Project during the two-week program. During the hours of each day allotted for the project, they help the girls meet specific goals set for each day and facilitate the sharing of ideas. The projects themselves are not particularly technical, and the teachers do not need extensive computer or technological knowledge. What they do bring to the team is an all-important adult perspective and the experience of knowing how to work with girls this age.

How can we teach engineering design without technical projects? The reason is that engineering design is really a process of identifying, formulating, and solving problems that is applicable in a wide variety of contexts. Many times, engineers today use computers or other high-tech equipment to develop or implement solution to problems. However, these are simply tools, and use of such tools will not be necessary for the projects selected for this program. Teachers do find that they can tie aspects of the project to the math and science curricula that the girls have just had, and that they can use many of the techniques used for the engineering design project during their regular school year activities.

Teachers also participate in the day's Discovery Workshop activities. This participation may be in large part observational, while other workshops need more active facilitation and co-teaching on the part of the teachers and other staff members. For the latter cases, all material will be reviewed and explained during staff training, and the workshop leaders will also be available and participating during the workshop itself.

A stipend of $2000 is provided to teachers upon completion of the program. Lunch each day is also provided, and a minimum of 90 Professional Development Points (PDPs) will be awarded.

Application materials can be downloaded below, or you may call (+1-508-831-6035) or e-mail Sue Sontgerath, Camp Reach Co-director (ssont@wpi.edu) to have them sent by regular mail.

 

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Last modified: February 02, 2009 12:38:34