Project Partner Panel Eva Rodriguez – Works at Ludlow Animal Clinic and is a project partner to EPICS students at Agawam High School in Massachusetts.

Project Partner Panel

Eva Rodriguez – Works at Ludlow Animal Clinic and is a project partner to EPICS students at Agawam High School in Massachusetts.

Rachael Nickel – Is the Director of Education and Exhibits atThe Terre Haute Childrens Museum in southern Indiana andis a project partner to the Purdue University EPICS program.

EPICS is a design-based, service learning program that teaches students about engineering, computing, and technology fields while civically engaging them in their local communities. In the EPICS programs teams of students work on projects to address the engineering and technology-based needs of community service and education organizations.

What is EPICS High?

Service – students participate in service for the underserved in a community

Academically-based – reinforces or connects with the subject material of the academic course

Reciprocity – Mutual needs, mutual learning

Reflection (Analysis, metacognition) – Students reflect (analyze) on their experience and learning

Characteristics of Service-Learning

Teaching Professional Skills Analytical skills Practical ingenuity Creativity Communication & teamwork skills Business & management skills Professionalism Leadership, including bridging

public policy and technology Dynamism/agility/resilience/

flexibility Lifelong learnersPredicted attributes that will be required in NAE’s Engineer

of 2020

80% of high school seniors entering college participated in community service or service-learning◦ Female and minority students more inclined to

continue service◦ Many honors diplomas require service

Service-learning in high schools rarely connected with engineering/science/math

EPICS provides an opportunity to tap into this wave of volunteerism

Motivation: Connecting engineering with people and local communities

EPICS programs at 20 universities 33 High schools in 6 states

◦ California, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Texas

New – EPICS High Programs in South Africa!

The EPICS Consortium

33 Schools Participating

1875 Student Participants

42% Female Participants

37% Underrepresented Participants

Over 253,000 people positively effected by EPICS High projects!

Impact: Changing the EquationIncluded in the mission of the EPICS High program is outreach to underrepresented populations. Reports from schools in October 2009 show the following impact:

◦Human Services Examples: Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, Local Food Banks

◦Access & Abilities Examples: Special Needs Students in Schools, Local

Organizations for Handicap or Disabled Residents

◦Environmental Examples: State Environmental Depts., Recycling groups

◦Education & Outreach Examples: Feeder Elem. Or Middle Schools, Local Children’s

Museums

EPICS Projects Fall Into 4 Broad Areas of Interest:

Frederick Douglass Academy, NY

Desktop Aquaponics

This project will train students to build indoor desktop aquaponics systems by teaching students about basic design, instrumentation, and project execution. Students who become proficient will be sent to maintain systems that have been built by previous EPICS students in the school and in a local senior center.

Pleasant Grove High School, CA Stone Lake Preserve Kiosk

Pleasant Grove created an educational kiosk for the Stone lake wildlife preserve, as well as starting an after-school Robotics Club at a local elementary school.

EPICS High Project Examples

McCutcheon High School, IN Guidance Department ESL Assistant Software

Computers give a welcome message Spanish speakers. The menu allows parents/students to select from options including: enrollment, withdrawal, and frequently asked questions. Forms completed by users then revert to English for counselors and school use

Harbor Beach School, Michigan Computerized Food Pantry Inventory Project

Students are working with all food pantries in county to sep up a computerized inventory system for tracking food items and customer information

EPICS High Project Examples

Designed for flexibility

Great deal of input from EPICS High teachers Consists of the following 5 modules that address 1 central topic

per week:

1. Design2. Service Learning3. Cultural Context and Ethics4. Teamwork5. Communication

Listed in the curriculum are 3 sections within each module that state learning objectives, national academic standards, and 45 lesson plans

EPICS High Curriculum

Affordable...NO FEE to become an EPICS High!

Encourage long-term partnerships within your community and across the EPICS high network

Engage students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields

Teach students the professional skills needed to succeed Teacher training that gives schools the tools to run an EPICS High

program

Network of schools across the country

Flexible EPICS High Curriculum developed to lead teachers in facilitating EPICS

Web tools and resources

Gives students access to experts in local community organizations, businesses and companies

Products offered to EPICS schools from program partners 

Benefits of being an EPICS High School

Teachers and/or a school administrators to attend an EPICS High training

Mentors for High Schools to add engineering and other expertise to compliment teachers

Limited funds to purchase project materials

Community Partners in need of projects to help them serve the public (ex: Habitat for Humanity, Local Middle and Elementary Schools, and a City Parks Department)

Students who enjoy hands-on projects and want to learn important professional skills

Ingredients for getting started…

EPICS has the potential to play a role in addressing many current issues including:

Declining interest in Engineering/Computing Continued underrepresentation of women and

minorities Drop out rates Improving STEM education Global competitiveness Building capacity in communities and schools Compelling needs of underserved populations

EPICS High: Potential for Impact

EPICS High continues to bring together the resources to have programs in every state and internationally too! We need your help……

Our goal is for all EPICS High classes to be within the school day and the school’s curriculum

We continue to establish schools as modes for implementation

How could EPICS fit into the curriculum in your state?

Are there grants we could collaborate on and apply for? EPICS has the capacity to take the lead on grant writing.

EPICS High in Your School

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