The Viterbi School of Engineering offers the following categories of K-12 programs: STEM Education Research Programs, STEM Opportunities for K-12 Students, Summer Programs for Students, Professional Development for Teachers, MESA Competitions, Service Learning and Past Programs.
Engineering For Health Academy
The Engineering for Health Academy (EHA) is a small learning community supported by the State Department of Education through the Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems Engineering Research Center (BMES ERC) within the context of the larger comprehensive high school at Bravo Medical Magnet High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The EHA offers grades 9 through 12 innovative courses of study infused with societally relevant health related engineering technologies curricula.
Contact: Dr. Joseph Cocozza cocozza@usc.edu
Website: http://bravoweb.lausd.k12.ca.us/eha.php
Inner City Civil and Environmental Engineering Academy
Supported by the National Science Foundation and located in the Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) Charter School organization in Los Angeles, this project aims at leading middle and high school students to engineering by providing them with innovative engineering educational materials, pedagogy and curriculum that have dramatically improved the content knowledge and retention of students in engineering at USC. The focus of the academy is environmentally and technology relevant STEM secondary education and teacher professional development with an emphasis on increasing students’ science literacy.
Contact: Dr. Gisele Ragusa ragusa@usc.edu
Middle School Literacy Achievement in Health, Math and Science Program
Supported by the California Postsecondary Education Commission, this program is affiliated with the Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE), and the Center for Emerging Materials and Solid State Lighting with the goal of improving middle school STEM achievement. This program is located in Paramount Unified School District and is a middle school teacher training and middle school curricular intervention program focused both on STEM education and science literacy.
Contact: Dr. Gisele Ragusa ragusa@usc.edu
NSF Graduate Fellowship in K-12 STEM Education
Body Engineering Los Angeles (BELA, PI: Krishna Nayak, co-PIs: Andrea Hodge, Maja Matarić, Gisele Ragusa) is a new NSF GK-12 program at the Viterbi School that involves and prepares several of our best PhD students to become science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) leaders of tomorrow through a fellowship that incorporates extensive training and K-12 classroom experience. The program's research theme is body engineering, and emphasizes the concept that the human body is a machine that can be studied, experimented upon, analyzed, and augmented. This theme provides an attractive and engaging vehicle for introducing STEM concepts and university research to the K-12 classroom and leverages the overall strength of the Viterbi School, several university research initiatives at the interface between engineering and biology, physiology, and health, and a large group of committed faculty. Research topics that will be translated to the classroom include: non-invasive sensing and imaging, speech articulation, hand articulation, neuromuscular control, cardiovascular mechanics, nutrition and metabolism, biological and bio-compatible materials, vision, object recognition, and human-machine interaction.
Contacts: Dr. Krishna Nayak, knayak@usc.edu Dr. Andrea Hodge, ahodge@usc.edu Alycen Hall, alycenha@usc.edu
Website: http://bela.usc.edu/
Research Experiences for Teachers
The Viterbi School of Engineering has historically engaged in numerous NSF supported Research Experience for Teachers programs. Our faculty have engaged in numerous RET supplement-supported programs, and the school has also been awarded an RET SITE - USC Societally Relevant Engineering Technologies-Research Experience for Teachers (SRET-RET) program (PI: Prof. Maja Matarić, co-PI: Prof. Gisele Ragusa). The RET Site program is a collaborative research-based professional development effort that combines the science, engineering, technological, and pedagogical expertise of USC faculty with urban inner-city educators in 6-12th grade science classrooms in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and other neighboring school districts.
Contacts: Dr. Gisele Ragusa, ragusa@usc.edu
MESA Program
MESA is a program of the Viterbi School of Engineering (under contract with the University of California) that serves educationally disadvantaged students and, to the extent possible by law, emphasizes participation by students from groups with low rates of eligibility for four-year colleges. MESA provides a pipeline of academic services from elementary through university level to increase the number of these students who graduate with degrees in math, science, and engineering. The USC MESA program serves its students with innovative academic, college and career counseling and hands-on science programs, which are great opportunities to compete, show off and meet new friends.
Contact: Larry Lim llim@usc.edu
Website: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/ced/precollege
Mission Science
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering in partnership with USC's Neighborhood Outreach offers an exciting program for community children and their families. Elementary school aged students can learn about science in an informal atmosphere by working on projects, perform experiments and do hands-on science activities at ten sites in the University Park and Health Sciences Campus communities.
Contact: Larry Lim llim@usc.edu
Website: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/ced/precollege/mission
Science for Life Elementary STEM Program
Supported by the National Science Foundation through the Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems Engineering Research Center (BMES ERC) the Science for Life Program is an elementary STEM program that includes modular science and engineering curricula for in-the-classroom instruction focused on biomedical engineering and specifically the BMES ERC testbeds and research thrusts. The program is linked to the California State elementary science standards and includes many hands-on engaging science activities for elementary school students in Los Angeles Unified School District.
Contact: Dr. Joseph Cocozza cocozza@usc.edu
Website: http://bmes-erc.usc.edu/
The USC Science, Technology and Research (STAR) Program
The USC STAR Program is a longstanding USC program in which high school students in USC research labs. In this program, high school students collaborate on BME research projects and present research seminars to faculty, mentors and peers. The students also enter posters of research in local school-based competitive science fairs.
Contact: Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton rbrinton@usc.edu
Website: http://pharmweb.usc.edu/USCSTAR/
The Center for Robotics and Embedded Systems
The Center for Robotics and Embedded Systems (CRES) is dedicated to diverse outreach. Ongoing activities include expanding the number of involved schools and museums in the LA area, developing a teacher-training programs in robotics, and putting together an introductory-level (high school and up) robotics textbook.
Contact: Dr. Maja Matarić mataric@usc.edu
Website: http://cres.usc.edu/Activities/outreach.php
Family Science
The Family Science program is an afterschool and evening program supported by Iridescent (a non-profit community science organization). In this program, parents and students work together in engaging science activities intended to increase students’ interest in science education.
Contacts: Tara Chklovski Info@IridescentLearning.org
Summer Engineering Programs
Discover Engineering and Mission Engineering Students are introduced to various engineering disciplines through a series of lectures, academic exercises, research assignments, guest lecturers, field trips and engineering projects. Through designing, building and testing projects, students will experience a wide range of engineering applications for a variety of engineering majors, such as:
aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.
Contact: Larry Lim llim@usc.edu
Website: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/ced/precollege/summer-engineering
USC Chevron Frontiers in Energy Research Summer Camp
Through the USC Chevron Center for Smart Oilfields Technologies (CiSoft) , Chevron Corporation has come together with Viterbi School of Engineering collaboratively to host a summer camp for High School Juniors and High School Science and Math Teachers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. The Frontiers of Energy Resources Summer Camp offers a preparatory, interactive training program focusing on various energy resources including fossil fuels, solar, biofuel, wind, nuclear energy, and information technologies for energy efficient operations. This unique program is designed to introduce outstanding high school students going into their senior year and high school math and/or science teachers to the opportunities and career possibilities available in the global energy resources industry.
Website: http://cisoft.usc.edu/frontiers-of-energy-resources-summer-camp/overview/
STEM Teacher Academies
The Viterbi School of Engineering supports various STEM teacher academies in which teachers join Viterbi researchers in collaborative engineering research and curriculum development associated with this research in the form of teacher professional development. Currently several of USC’s national research centers are participants as collaborators in these academies: Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE), the Optimizing Participation through Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (OPTT RERC), and the Center for Emerging Materials and Solid State Lighting.
Contacts: Dr. Gisele Ragusa, ragusa@usc.edu
MESA MASME
The MESA Academy for Science and Math Educators (MASME) offers educators workshops on various topics such as photonics, virtual fractions and Mayan mathematics. MASME provides different methods to facilitate student success in math and science and a forum for educators to collaborate and share best practices.
Contact: Larry Lim llim@usc.edu
Website: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/ced/precollege/mesa-masme.htm
Robotics Challenge
Note: 2012 MESA Robotics Challenge will be hosted on Saturday, May 19, 2012 on the USC Campus.
Robotics are increasingly important in our everyday lives. Mathematicians, Engineers and Scientists are developing new technologies to solve many of our current environmental issues. The purpose of the competition is to encourage gracious professionalism that leaves everyone involved feeling valued with a sense of integrity and teamwork. The goal is not just to win, but to participate fairly and to extend gracious professionalism and respect to all teams and students involved.
Contact: Larry Lim llim@usc.edu
Website: http://mesa.ucop.edu/mesa_day_rules/index.html
MESA Day
MESA Day is held each Spring of each year for middle school and high school students. These hands-on mathematics, science and engineering competitions are aligned to California State Content Standards. Students compete in such competitions as balsawood bridge, balsawood glider, crystal growing, mathematics, mousetrap car, packaged egg drop, and web design. Sponsors of MESA Days at USC include SBC Pacific Bell, Panda Cares (Panda Restaurant Group), Conexant, Lockheed Martin, Teradyne, Hewlett Packard, IBM, and Tidelands Oil. Thanks to these corporations for their contributions, support, and volunteers.
Contact: Larry Lim llim@usc.edu
Website: http://mesa.ucop.edu/mesa_day_rules/index.html
FIRST Robotics
FIRST Robotics is an international competition for high school students. This intense six-week event provides students with true hands-on opportunities to learn real world engineering skills by designing and building robots to compete with teams from schools around the world. The southern California local kick-off and robot kit distribution is held at USC in early January. The Viterbi School of Engineering also sponsors and provides support for neighborhood schools, including the Foshay Learning Center and Manual Arts High School.
Contact: Larry Lim llim@usc.edu
FIRST Website: http://www.usfirst.org
JETS-TEAMS
TEAMS is an annual paper and pencil competition giving students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to discover engineering and how they can make a difference in the world. Student teams work collaboratively and use the practical applications of math and science, with an engineering focus, to problem solve everyday world challenges. Competition themes are based on the National Academy of Engineering's Grand Challenges.
Contact: Larry Lim llim@usc.edu
JETS-TEAMS Website: http://www.jets.org/teams
Graduate and Undergraduate students in Viterbi School of Engineering are engaged in diverse service learning activities.
Engineers as Teachers Program
The Engineers as Teachers Program, supported by Iridescent Learning (a non-profit STEM education organization) provides engineering undergraduate students with opportunities to partner with Los Angeles area teachers to teach engineering and science lessons to area elementary and middle schoolers.
Contacts: Tara Chklovski Info@IridescentLearning.org
Website: Http://www.iridescentlearning.org
Engineers Without Borders
The USC Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-USC) partners with developing communities to improve their quality of life through the implementation of environmentally sustainable, equitable, and economical engineering projects while developing socially and environmentally conscious engineering students. Our chapter offers the opportunity to enhance many attributes critical to successful engineering practice, including team work, problem solving, and creativity. EWB-USC allows undergraduate Trojan engineers to utilize and expand their engineering skills for a meaningful, moral purpose.
Contact: Alexander John - ajohn@usc.edu
Website: http://www.ewb-usc.org/
Engineering Course Related Service Learning Projects
Various service-learning projects are available when engineering undergraduate students enroll in courses including Engineering (Writing) 340 and the Freshman Engineering Academy. In their upper division writing course, Engineering 340, students create articles and various projects that can be used by teachers interested in infusing engineering research in their K-12 curriculum. Click here for a map of current Community Partners of the Engineering Writing Progream. In the Engineering Freshman Academy courses, students can participate in USC’s Joint Education Project (JEP) and tutor K-12 students in STEM education.
Contact: Steve Bucher bucher@usc.edu
Mathematics Physics Technology Institute (MPTI)
This annual two-week professional development institute provides the opportunity for teachers of grades 8-12 to integrate science and math learning using graphing calculator and sensor technology for data gathering, data analysis and curve fitting. Science teachers focus on physics experiments to explore distance-time-rate relationships as prescribed in the California Science Standards. Meanwhile, their math-teaching colleagues examine elementary functions of algebra and advanced algebra based on the California Math Standards to explore the same distance-time-rate relationships. Institutes offer equipment, salary point credit, and stipends for each participating teacher.
Contact: Larry Lim, llim@usc.edu
Website: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/ced/precollege/mpti.htm
GameDesk (now Pedagogical Games)
Located at Crenshaw High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District and Supported by the Integrated Media Systems Engineering Research Center (IMSC ERC), the Gamedesk program is a high school program in which high schoolers engage in educational game making in an art and mathematics integrated course.
Contact: Dr. James Baker jimbaker@imsc.usc.edu
Website: http://ai.isi.edu/pedtek/pedgame.html
EnCorps Teachers
EnCorps Teachers Program helps professionals transition into a second career as a math and science teacher or tutor in underserved public middle and high schools. Services include help earning a California Single Subject Teaching Credential, guest teaching and tutoring.
Website: http://www.encorpsteachers.org/home
