SAE International and General Motors Partner to Bring STEM Education to River Oaks Elementary Students in Austin, Texas
WARRENDALE, Pa. (PRWEB) November 29, 2017 -- Through a partnership with the General Motors Austin IT Innovation Center, SAE International will close its award-winning A World In Motion™ (AWIM) program to River Oaks Elementary School in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 30 for the third year in a row.
Over several weeks, every student in the fourth and fifth grades participated in the Straw Rocket and JetToy challenges, which provide fun, hands-on learning of crucial science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills.
67 volunteers from the GM Austin IT Development facility have volunteered their time and expertise for throughout the program with at least one volunteer working with groups of three-to-four students.
“When you see a student understand a concept and really begin to enjoy learning about math and science; it’s a really amazing feeling,” Amy Smith, Pre-College Manager for SAE International, said. “We’re able to bring that type of learning to River Oaks Elementary through the generous support of General Motors. We want to thank GM and all of their volunteers for their tremendous support and commitment.”
In addition to helping students throughout the program, many of the GM volunteers will also serve as judges.
In the Straw Rocket Challenge, students build, test, and modify rockets made from drinking straws. By changing one variable at a time, including the rockets’ shape, size and components, students employ problem-solving skills to design rockets that meet specific goals.
In the JetToy Challenge, students build and test model ballon powered-cars using different nozzles, and collect and analyze data to understand the effect of nozzle size on the performance of the toys. They will create other designs and test them, then give a formal presentation of their final designs.
Credentialed journalists and members of the media interested in attending the event should email [email protected] or call 1-724-772-8522.
SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 127,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.
Shawn Andreassi, SAE International, http://www.sae.org, +1 (724) 772-8522, [email protected]
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