MTI1998 Institute OverviewMaterials Aspects of Manufacturing Technology University of Washington Seattle, WA 1998 Progress Report
Major Achievements and Progress To Date The Materials Aspects of Manufacturing Technology Institute (MTI) is aimed at developing a set of instructors with sufficient background and understanding of manufacturing technology who will serve as leaders in the effort of enhancing technology education in the U.S. It is also aimed at providing a model interactive program involving high school and community college instructors and students to assist in program articulation and to assist in the transition for technology students across the high school-community college boundary The Institute began in July 1997 with a 15-day institute for 18 participants, most of whom had some experience teaching materials science in the classroom. Activities in the institute included lectures and discussions on the subject of materials and manufacturing technology, practical laboratories and participant sharing of activities for use in the classroom, individual and group projects, and field trips. Following this initial Institute, we developed a follow-up workshop for our participants and for other experienced materials technology instructors to exchange information on classroom activities. Twenty instructors participated in this one day program, held in October 1997. In order to attract the new instructors that we needed for the second year program, we developed informational packets, which were distributed by mail and at a Washington Science Teachers Association meeting in Seattle. This resulted in 75 teachers who applied to attend a one-day orientation workshop, held in December 1997. Since we only had planned for 30 attendees and our space and instructors were in limited supply, we limited this workshop to 43 participants, handled by four staff members. To accommodate the overflow from the above workshop, a second introductory workshop was held in March 1998, attended by 25 participants. To meet the interest developed by these workshops and the wishes of the participants, we developed an introductory level summer/academic year program for 1998-99. This institute consists of a 13 day program in introductory materials science and technology, including lectures, labs, discussion sessions, and independent project development, for community college and high school instructors from the Pacific Northwest. The principle goal of the program is to enhance the materials science and materials technology background of the participants to enable them to include more meaningful, hands-on experiences in their classrooms in the area of materials science as it applies to manufacturing technology.
Current year participants include both science and technology instructors at the secondary level in Washington State. The curricular material being used in this program include the Materials Science and Technology (MST) curriculum developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Materials World Modules developed at Northwestern University. Instruction is hands-on with the goal that participants can utilize these materials directly in their classrooms and laboratories. Twenty-three teachers are enrolled. The institute meets as follows:
August 17 – 22 at Olympia High School, Olympia WA October 9 – 10 at Coupeville High School, Coupeville, WA December 5 – 6, Mt. Rainier High School, Des Moines, WA February 27-28, Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood, WA April 23 – 25, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA
Subjects covered in these programs include hands on instruction in experiments, projects and laboratory in metals, ceramics, polymers and composite materials. Participants learn a series of experiments that can be used directly in the classroom along with projects that can be used with students outside the classroom. All staff members are practicing instructors of materials science and technology. Additional guest lecturers provide industrial input on materials technologies, including instruction and field trips, ideas on student projects, and assistance in developing interactive programs between high schools and community. Dissemination activities have included workshops and conference presentations on the role of materials science and materials technology in developing interest in technology and science among students, and in providing these students with marketable technological skills.
Further information is available from: Dr. Thomas Stoebe Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-2120 (206) 543-7090 stoebe@u.washington.edu |
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