There are all kinds of summer camps for kids, but teachers go to camps, too!
Teachers are always looking for new ways to inspire students in the classroom. The world is changing so fast, it's hard for professionals in STEM fields to stay up to date. But it's even harder for teachers, especially if you've been out of school for awhile.
We found a group of teachers, now acting as students, who were learning about material science which involves working with solids.
In this particular lesson, teachers are melting down tin. It's hands-on learning that can easily be integrated into lesson plans. And when teachers get excited about learning, it spills over into the classroom.
Techniques learned here can also inspire kids, especially girls, to consider a science or engineering career.
This teacher camp is put on by ASM Materials Education Foundation. ASM is a professional organization for those who work in material science, with its world headquarters right here in Cleveland.
Cheryl Bowman, a research engineer at NASA Glenn is a member. What excites her is electrified aircraft propulsion. So you're probably thinking, 'Wow, you must have to be really smart to do that.'
Not true.
"I came from a real rural high school where they didn't have a good foundation in science and math and I thought college was going to chew me up and spit me out, but i persevered," Bowman explains. "You don't come out of your freshman year as a brain surgeon, you don't come out of your freshman year as a rocket scientist, you learn it one piece at a time."
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