Mercer TECH

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Mercer TECH 2000

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Central South Summer Math, Science, and Engineering Camps for Rising 5th, 6th, and 7th Graders

Sponsors: 

• American Honda Foundation
• Mercer Center for Community Development
• Bibb County Public Schools
• American Association of University Women
• Mercer University

Project Co-directors:

• Dr. Linda Hensel, Associate Professor of Biology
• Dr. Hope McIlwain, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
• Dr. Joan Burtner, Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering

Project Summary:

We are piloting two academically focused summer camps for talented, minority children from targeted elementary schools. Our goal is to reinforce students’ mathematics, science, and engineering interests early in their education. One camp (Mercer MESSAGE) focuses on science and mathematics skills and is offered to rising fifth and sixth grade girls. The other camp (Mercer TECH)  focuses on engineering and technology skills and is offered to rising sixth and seventh grade boys and girls and some of their teachers. The project enables the boys and girls to succeed in a unique scientific endeavor and to be connected with tiered mentoring in the community. High school and college mentors continue their relationship with the campers at   reunions held three times during the school year. The project also allows participating public school teachers to develop and deliver technology-rich course modules. By offering both a single-sex camp for girls and a coed camp, we hope to establish a situation in which data can be obtained to assess the impact that each type of camp has on the students’ future interest and success in mathematics, science, and engineering. A long-term goal is to establish a yearly camp that provides the most effective environment for increasing campers’ interest and successes in mathematics, science, and engineering education.