Topics of Interest for Readers
All Readers:
- Read about e4usa at the upcoming NCSSS 2024 conference in San Antonio, Texas, on November 6-9
- Learn more about e4usa's partnership with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN)
- Find out more about e4usa's collaboration with XRP, IEEE PELS, and ASU
- Check out the e4usa employee spotlight on Jenny Kouo
- Read about Katie McKeown's recent awards
See You at NCSSS 2024!
e4usa is thrilled to announce our participation in the upcoming NCSSS Conference in San Antonio on November 6-9! We are dedicated to enhancing hands-on engineering education, and this conference provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with educators, industry leaders, and fellow innovators.
In our latest blog post, we dive into how e4usa is making a difference in engineering education and share insights into what attendees can expect at our sessions.
e4usa Partners with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN)
We are excited to announce e4usa's partnership with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN), a key organization dedicated to enhancing STEM education in Tennessee. TSIN connects innovative schools, teachers, and administrators to vital resources, supports the development of innovative programs, and fosters local school-to-industry partnerships. As part of this collaboration, TSIN will sponsor 10 high school educators from Tennessee to participate in e4usa summer professional development and year-round programming, empowering them to bring high-quality engineering education to their classrooms. Together, we aim to elevate STEM education and inspire the next generation of innovators in Tennessee.
XRP, IEEE PELS, and ASU Collaboration
e4usa recently collaborated with eXperiential Robotics Platform (XRP), IEEE PELS and IAS, and Arizona State University to host a professional learning workshop at the IEEE Energy Conversion Conference and Exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 22. This engaging session introduced 20 high school and community college educators to the innovative e4usa and XRP programs, followed by hands-on activities where participants built a wireless phone charger and a solar battery charger using XRP Power Electronics kits.
Through these projects, educators were introduced to core power electronics concepts like energy transformation, AC induction, DC conversion, and Principled Innovation through instructional modules designed by e4usa. Attendees received stipends, funding for substitute teachers to cover their classes, XRP kits, and instructional materials. Additionally, educators provided formative feedback on the kits and the instructional materials that will lead to improvements that will be distributed to them in the coming weeks. We aim to build students’ personal toolboxes with knowledge of power electronics that they can take and use to solve many kinds of problems. We also aim to establish a robust model of effective partnership between various entities (nonprofits, industry, academia, engineering societies) and bridge the gap in pre-college engineering education specific to power electronics.
e4usa Spotlight: Jenny Kouo
Name: Jenny Kouo
e4usa job title: Team Lead of Teacher Professional Learning
How long have you been involved with e4usa? Since about 2015!
What is your favorite role as a team member of e4usa?
I may be a bit biased, but I truly love being part of the e4usa Professional Learning Team. It’s an honor to collaborate with a group that is committed to supporting passionate educators and fostering a close-knit community of practice. I’m also constantly inspired by the dedication and brilliance of my colleagues at e4usa—working alongside such incredible educators and researchers is a privilege!
How did you become involved with e4usa?
As a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, I was invited by the incredible Dr. Leigh Abts to join NSF-funded projects that laid the groundwork for e4usa. I remain involved with e4usa for many reasons, one of which is its mission, which resonates deeply with me. It helps keep the memory of my late father alive. As an electrical engineer, he taught me to see the important presence the engineering design process in our everyday lives.
Why would you encourage more schools to get involved with e4usa?
I truly wish e4usa had been offered when I was in high school. It opens doors for all students to grasp the significance of the engineering design process and to see themselves as potential engineers. Regardless of whether students choose to pursue an engineering degree, understanding this process is invaluable across all careers and aspirations. It equips individuals with the skills to embrace challenges and navigate failure through iteration.
What has been your favorite e4usa project to see students participate in? Why?
e4usa projects that take a human-centered approach to engineering, emphasizing a thorough understanding of stakeholders are my favorite. As a former special education teacher, I value projects that include students with disabilities as key stakeholders. We have an ASEE work-in-progress paper showcasing these projects, and demonstrates how time spent by e4usa students empathizing with and understanding students with disabilities significantly influenced the prototypes and final solutions developed.
What advice do you have for high school students considering enrollment in one of the three e4usa courses?
e4usa provides a unique opportunity to engage with real-world engineering challenges through a human-centered lens. This course not only equips students with essential skills in the engineering design process but also fosters empathy by encouraging them to understand diverse stakeholder perspectives. By collaborating on projects that address genuine community needs, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities. Furthermore, these experiences prepare them for a variety of career paths, helping them to see themselves as capable innovators who can make a meaningful impact in the world.
What advice would you offer to new e4usa teachers?
Teaching a new curriculum presents a valuable opportunity for both learning and growth as an educator. Reflect on how the engineering design process applies to your role. Embracing reflection and iteration will be essential as you gain experience and strive to make student-centered decisions in your instruction. Remember to be kind to yourself during this journey and know that you have the support of a vibrant community at e4usa to lean on throughout the year.
Anything else you’d like to share such as hobbies, family, or fun facts?
I'm a proud mom of a spirited 4-year-old who adores all things cars and loves building with Legos, Magna-Tiles, blocks, and cardboard boxes! My husband and I hope he’ll be a future e4usa student. We cherish our weekends hiking the beautiful mountain trails of Washington, where we live!
Congratulations Katie!
Katie McKeown, e4usa's Business Operations Coordinator and newest member of the assessment team, has recently received the prestigious Hunter Boylan Research Scholarship for her impactful research on Learning Centers and student success. Additionally, she was honored with the Forever Duke Award for founding Duke First, an initiative focused on improving access for low-income and first-generation college students. With a strong commitment to education access, she is also the founder and director of Packs of Hope, a 501(c)(3) organization.
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We welcome all schools to learn more about this effort by visiting our website and signing up for our newsletter here. As always, we appreciate any feedback or suggestions you may have for our newsletter. Look for us on social media platforms with the hashtag #e4usa.