University And High School Collaboration Through An Interactive Outreach Activity

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to demonstrate University and High School collaboration through a Service Learning exercise. Pedagogical collaboration between the local Prescott High School and senior level mechanical engineering students from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Arizona had great benefits to both schools and the students. The high school students included 9th-11th grades. During multiple visits the high school students were exposed to quizzes, presentations and hands on experimentation. The quizzes were administered to gauge where their level of understanding of fluid dynamics was as well as their interest in STEM and ERAU. The students were then divided into small groups. Each group was asked to draw a shape of their choice and sketch what they believed would be the fluid flow around the object they chose. These objects being analyzed were modeled and then 3D printed. Using Flowcoach, a commercial interactive educational system, students experimentally observed flow around each shape and compared it to their initial flow sketch predictions. Students showed an increased interest in STEM. This was likely because of students being exposed to tools and applications, such as Flowcoach technology, they would not have previously been exposed to in a public high school setting. Another important benefit of the ERAU and high school student interaction was that the students were interested to learn more about ERAU