Revisit of Lessons Learned: Evolution of the Aerospace Engineering Summer Camp in Year Three

摘要

Three years ago, Texas A&M University held a summer camp to improve outreach to high schools and encourage interest in aerospace engineering. A critical evaluation three years later evaluates the successes and revisions by the department. In an effort to improve the student experience, each subsequent camp reflects on lessons learned from previous camps, and the latest camp is no different. In early years, additions included having practicing engineers participate in camp and integrating different design tracks using a systems approach. In the most recent version of the camp, the structure was modified significantly to accommodate additional students and provide an additional field of interest. In addition to the previous aircraft and rocket tracks, a third track, called Air Ships, focused on the use of electronic control systems to maneuver the lighter-than-air swimmers. Adding a new track allowed an increase in the number of students attending camp from 30 to 60 with the team size in each track increasing from 15 to 20 students. Another innovation for the third camp was the inclusion of interested high school science and mathematics teachers in the camp. In an effort to educate one and reach a hundred, the camp provided four teachers with inspiration and ideas that could be transplanted to their high school classrooms.