Pennsylvania Transportation Institute Reaches Out To Middle And High School Students And Teachers

April 26, 2001

University Park, Pa. --- Penn State’s Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (PTI) is bringing hybrid electric vehicle technologies to students at the Bellefonte Area Middle School, Susquehanna Township Middle School and Steelton-Highspire High School.

Students from these three Pennsylvania schools are participating in an outreach project titled, "Hybrid and Electric Vehicle M3 Education," directed by Dr. Donald A. Streit, professor of mechanical engineering and director of PTI’s Vehicle Systems and Safety Program. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation, Graduate Teaching Fellows in GK-12 Education. By focusing on hybrid electric vehicles, Streit’s research team hopes to increase the students’ understanding of science, math, engineering and technology and increase the number of students pursuing careers in these fields.

Graduate students from the College of Engineering and the Eberly College of Science are interacting directly with 7th, 8th, and 10th grade science and technology teachers in the three schools. The main function of the graduate student is to be a resource for the teacher; however, the graduates are also participating directly with the students through classroom lectures and activities. Earlier in the school year, more than 500 students from the three schools were bused to Penn State and given tours of several of the labs affiliated with hybrid electric vehicle technologies.

Each of the participating teachers received $1,000 and each science department received $500 to support the new curriculum. Penn State’s contribution to the school districts totaled $10,500. These funds were made available to the teachers for the purchase of classroom computers, web cameras, software, manipulative kits, laboratory equipment, etc. in an attempt to provide additional tools with which the teachers can engage the students in learning.

The project has established a "Science Question of the Week" web site. Students are asked to visit the web site and submit an answer to the posted question. Teachers are then supplied with a tally of results for each week. Some teachers are using the activity for earning extra credit. Coming soon to the classroom will be web-based videoconferencing for tutoring purposes.

Questions on the project can be addressed to:

Ms. Liz Kisenwether
213M Hammond Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 863-1531
exk13@psu.edu

or

Ms. Robin Tallon
201 Transportation Research Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 863-1902
tallon@psu.edu

***mdc***

Contacts:
Michael Casper (814) 863-7922 mcc4@psu.edu
Barbara Hale (814) 865-9481 (o)/ (814) 238-0997 (h) bah@psu.edu