Why is K-12 STEM education important?
Increasing access to, and improving the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education have been widely reckoned as being one of the most important investments to ensure a promising future for our country's youth, as well as the country's leadership in innovation. Labor statistics show that obtaining education in a STEM field is correlated with higher incomes and lower unemployment rates. With jobs in STEM fields anticipated to grow at twice the rate of non-STEM jobs over the next few decades, there appears to be a market for students with STEM degrees in the foreseeable future.
Concurrent to the promising growth in jobs, we are also faced by the challenges of high dropout rates, and very low proficiency rates among our school students. In Michigan for instance, the mathematics and science proficiency rates among elementary and middle school students in 2012 were below 40% and 20% respectively. A critical aspect of bridging the STEM achievement gap, thus, is engagement of students in science and mathematics from early stages of their education. The government, education institutions, corporations, and non-profits have invested several million dollars in K-12 STEM education initiatives, research, and teacher training.
What is MindSET?
MindSET is a STEM education initiative started by TBP. It is an outreach program put on by a number of TBP chapters around the country, and is aimed at engaging K-12 students in science and mathematics through hands-on, design-based learning activities, and mentoring from current engineering undergraduate and graduate students. The MindSET program at the TBP MI-Gamma chapter started in 2010. Since then, we have partnered with half a dozen Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti schools to work with over a hundred students every year.
The program is designed around learn-design-build-test modules. Each semester, we do three to four modules. The modules cover topics in physics, chemistry, and mathematics, along with their engineering applications such as bridges, circuits, and water rockets. The design-build activities involve groups of 4–5 school students working together with 2–3 college students. This structure provides a fun-filled and creative learning experience for school students, and also creates opportunities for college students to share their experience with learning engineering.
MindSET modules are organized three to four times a semester on Saturday morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Each module is different in a given semester, but we may do the same module across semesters.
K-12 Outreach Team
Our awesome K-12 outreach team leaders this semester are 🐧Erik and Zehua! Please send an email to tbp.k12outreach@umich.edu if you have any questions about MindSET, or suggestions about how we can improve our program.
🐧Erik Radakovich
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:
Favorite City:
Fun Fact About Me:
🐻❄️ Simon Li
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:
Favorite City:
Fun Fact About Me:
Over the years, we've had some pretty cool people lead our K-12 outreach efforts. Here's a list of these awesome people, and what they did for MindSET and fun facts about them!
John Serger
William Chung
Sydney Erickson
Andrej Coleski
Swetha Reddi
Michael Panagos
Ryan Miller
Mackenna Hill
Gunseli Onder
TBD
Shruthi Chandra
TBD
Rachel Neumann
Rachel is pursuing her Master's in Chemical Engineering here at the University of Michigan.
Eric Colomb
TBP
Sara Rusignuolo
Sara is enjoying her last few semesters at Michigan and trying to learn how to cook.
Laura Kruger
Laura helped to start the K-12 Outreach Committee. She studies biomedical engineering and plans to attend medical school after she graduates.
Alex Waselewski
Alex helped to expand MindSET to more students and schools. He is studying to be a doctor and likes playing video games.
Jeff Lowe
Marissa Lafata
Marissa studies cool materials for her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Carlos Pons Siepermann
Nathan Rowley
Sarang Supekar
Sarang started MindSET at the University of Michigan; he loves making pottery.
Modules
Water Rockets
Concepts covered: Force, gravity, Newton’s laws of motion, drag, thrust, aerodynamics
Circuits
Concepts covered: Electricity, circuit components, binary numbers, Boolean logic
Paper Airplanes
Concepts covered: Manufacturing process flows, product defects, profits, types of product assembly lines, quality control
Density Quest
Concepts covered: Matter, properties of matter, density, buoyancy
Lunar Landers
Concepts covered: Engineering design process, importance of space exploration, types of energy, conservation of energy
Bridges
Concepts covered: History of bridges, types of bridges, trusses, properties of triangles, cost constraints in design
Feedback
We would really like to hear from parents, teachers, students, and volunteers about how we're doing at MindSET. Please take a moment to provide us your valuable feedback using this form.
FAQs
How do I get my child enrolled in MindSET?
The program is open to anyone who is interested in, and/or needs additional help with science or math. If your child is interested in participating in MindSET, please contact your child's class teacher or the school's MindSET teacher representative, and ask about filling out a MindSET permission slip. If your school doesn't have a MindSET representative, please email us and we will work towards partnering with your school.
How much does MindSET cost?
MindSET is absolutely free for school students! All the module costs are covered through TBP's funds.
When and where is MindSET organized?
MindSET modules are organized three to four times a semester on Saturday morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on the University of Michigan's North Campus. Specific room numbers are conveyed to the schools at the beginning of each term.
How do I bring my child to the University of Michigan campus?
Parents can drive their child to the specified North Campus location before 9:00 am, and sign them in at the desk manned by a student volunteer. At the end of the module around noon, parents need to sign their child out, before driving him/her home. Some schools provide a school bus to pick-up and drop-off children from their own school. Please ask your school MindSET representative if the school provides bus service for MindSET.
Where do I park?
Since MindSET happens on Saturdays, parents can park for free in the areas shown in the map below.
Do I send my child with food and/or water?
We provide the school children and our college student volunteers with light snacks and fruit juice at around 10:30 am during the module. There are also water fountains in the buildings in which we organize our modules. However, if you wish to send your child with snacks and water, you are welcome to do so. Additionally, if your child has any food allergies that we should be aware if, please be sure to mention them on the permission slips that you will fill out at the beginning of the term in order to sign up for MindSET.
What if my child misses a Saturday session?
We understand that attending all the sessions may not be possible for students. We encourage attending as many as possible, but it is not mandatory to attend all of them.
Modules this Semester
MindSET 1
Event Type: MindSET
Come help 4th and 5th grade students learn STEM concepts with hands-on, design-based activities. This week we will do a virtual paper plane factory module.
Erin Julia Lafrenz is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: MindSET 1 Paper Plane Activity
Time: Mar 20, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meeting
https://umich.zoom.us/j/94855764372Meeting ID: 948 5576 4372
Passcode: 770275
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,94855764372# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,94855764372# US (Chicago)Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
Meeting ID: 948 5576 4372
Find your local number: https://umich.zoom.us/u/aAHMGkh4lJoin by SIP
94855764372@zoomcrc.comJoin by H.323
162.255.37.11 (US West)
162.255.36.11 (US East)
115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai)
115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad)
213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands)
213.244.140.110 (Germany)
103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney)
103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne)
149.137.40.110 (Singapore)
64.211.144.160 (Brazil)
69.174.57.160 (Canada Toronto)
65.39.152.160 (Canada Vancouver)
207.226.132.110 (Japan Tokyo)
149.137.24.110 (Japan Osaka)
Meeting ID: 948 5576 4372
Passcode: 770275Project Leaders: Erin Lafrenz (elafrenz), 🐝 Trisha Dani (tdani), 🌺 Pauline Wu Wang (wanpau), and 🦢 Natalie Bower (bowerna)
When: Sat. March 20, 2021 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Zoom (off campus)
You must login to sign-up
Attendees:
21 of 22 spots.
MindSET 2
Event Type: MindSET
Come help 4th and 5th grade students learn STEM concepts with hands-on, design-based activities. This week we will do a virtual biomedical engineering "Unclogging Arteries" module.
Erin Julia Lafrenz is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: MindSET 2 Blocked Artery Module
Time: Mar 27, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meeting
https://umich.zoom.us/j/92685911526Meeting ID: 926 8591 1526
Passcode: 193052
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,92685911526# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,92685911526# US (Chicago)Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
Meeting ID: 926 8591 1526
Find your local number: https://umich.zoom.us/u/achJqPVvHEJoin by SIP
92685911526@zoomcrc.comJoin by H.323
162.255.37.11 (US West)
162.255.36.11 (US East)
115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai)
115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad)
213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands)
213.244.140.110 (Germany)
103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney)
103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne)
149.137.40.110 (Singapore)
64.211.144.160 (Brazil)
69.174.57.160 (Canada Toronto)
65.39.152.160 (Canada Vancouver)
207.226.132.110 (Japan Tokyo)
149.137.24.110 (Japan Osaka)
Meeting ID: 926 8591 1526
Passcode: 193052Project Leaders: Erin Lafrenz (elafrenz), 🐝 Trisha Dani (tdani), 🌺 Pauline Wu Wang (wanpau), and 🦢 Natalie Bower (bowerna)
When: Sat. March 27, 2021 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Zoom (off campus)
You must login to sign-up
Attendees:
9 of 19 spots.
MindSET Asynchronous Beta Testing
Event Type: MindSET
About 60 4th/5th graders join us during MindSET events to learn about STEM concepts. We conduct beta testing with TBP volunteers before the event to make sure the module runs smoothly.
This semester you have the opportunity to participate in an asynchronous beta testing event for an entirely new Python programming module! Follow the instructions outlined in the Google Form linked to complete this. This is a very easy way to get a couple service hours, and you get to do this on your own time!
We expect you to thoroughly follow the beta testing instructions and answer each question. Doing this will give you two service hours! You must complete this by 3/27/2021 to receive your hours.
Link to Google Form with event instructions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeea59EeZhMWuzxmKpJMe9-8UDHokux06PP5cHze5bcpAbRDA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&gxids=7628
Project Leaders: Erin Lafrenz (elafrenz), 🐝 Trisha Dani (tdani), 🌺 Pauline Wu Wang (wanpau), and 🦢 Natalie Bower (bowerna)
When: Sat. March 27, 2021 9 p.m.–11 p.m.
Where: Asynchronous (off campus)
You must login to sign-up
Attendees:
35 (no limit)
MindSET 3
Event Type: MindSET
Come help 4th and 5th grade students learn STEM concepts with hands-on, design-based activities. This week we will do a virtual Python programming module.
Erin Julia Lafrenz is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: MindSET 3 Python Programming Module
Time: Apr 3, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meeting
https://umich.zoom.us/j/98314400869Meeting ID: 983 1440 0869
Passcode: 601647
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,98314400869# US (New York)
+13017158592,,98314400869# US (Washington DC)Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
Meeting ID: 983 1440 0869
Find your local number: https://umich.zoom.us/u/aU8VSTYUZJoin by SIP
98314400869@zoomcrc.comJoin by H.323
162.255.37.11 (US West)
162.255.36.11 (US East)
115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai)
115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad)
213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands)
213.244.140.110 (Germany)
103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney)
103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne)
149.137.40.110 (Singapore)
64.211.144.160 (Brazil)
69.174.57.160 (Canada Toronto)
65.39.152.160 (Canada Vancouver)
207.226.132.110 (Japan Tokyo)
149.137.24.110 (Japan Osaka)
Meeting ID: 983 1440 0869
Passcode: 601647Project Leaders: Erin Lafrenz (elafrenz), 🐝 Trisha Dani (tdani), 🌺 Pauline Wu Wang (wanpau), and 🦢 Natalie Bower (bowerna)
When: Sat. April 03, 2021 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Zoom (off campus)
You must login to sign-up
Attendees:
15 of 19 spots.
Resources for Volunteers
Criminal Background CheckEach MindSET volunteer must complete a criminal background check. Please give the completed form to one of the K-12 Officers.