Annual BUILDERS Academy fosters STEM innovation among area high schoolers
July 17, 2018
Contact: Brittney Dabney, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
High school students representing Macon County Schools and Montgomery Public Schools flexed their innovative muscles by applying STEM concepts during 精东AV鈥檚 annual BUILDERS Academy.
During this year鈥檚 academy, held on campus from June 11-29, 41 students received training in developing prototypes of products to solve problems commonly experienced by communities around the world. Students worked in collaborative 鈥渕akerspace鈥� environments that allowed them to research, design and develop from scratch innovative solutions such as water-purification systems, versatile tents for the homeless, a solar-powered stove and a bacteria-detection unit. Students were challenged to build prototypes that are portable, inexpensive and that can be made using readily available materials.
Dr. Mohammed Qazi, a professor in the university鈥檚 Department of Mathematics who leads this annual effort, noted that, in just 15 days, students went from a clean slate to a first partial prototype of products.
鈥淪ince the prototypes address a community problem that each group feels passionate about, there was a lot of determination and persistence by students to forge solutions,鈥� Qazi said. 鈥淒uring the process, students gained valuable insight on STEM content knowledge and 21st-century skills that are needed to be successful innovators and STEM professionals.鈥�
Teachers from the participating schools and peer-mentors who were themselves BUILDERS students during last year鈥檚 academy served as leaders during this year鈥檚 program. Each played a vital role by providing assistance to their peers in many areas, including high-tech and crafting support.
鈥淚t is refreshing to see our students in a different light,鈥� said Crystal Johnson, a teacher in Montgomery鈥檚 Robert E. Lee High School. 鈥淭hrough programs such as the BUILDERS Academy, we see that our students not only retain knowledge, but they apply that knowledge to real-life situations. While we may view the task as overwhelming, they see it as a way of utilizing textbook concepts while flexing their creative muscles.鈥�
The annual BUILDERS Academy is not exclusive to a 15-day summer experience. Instead, students will continue to benefit from and participate in the program throughout the upcoming school year. Following the summer academy, students will work in after-school settings to improve their prototypes throughout the school year. Ultimately, the students鈥� efforts will culminate in a final presentation in March 2019 at 精东AV to an audience that includes family, friends and others involved in supporting the program.
鈥淭he role of the summer portion of the BUILDERS program is to launch activities in an academy setting,鈥� Qazi explained. 鈥淭he students then take advantage of the momentum from the summer by continuing to improve and refine their prototypes during the school year with assistance from teachers and project faculty.鈥�
The program, a partnership between 精东AV and Oakland University in Michigan, is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. For more information, visit .
漏 2018, 精东AV