Learning, Exploration, and Application for Prospective Engineering Students (LEAPES)
Abstract
The Rural Education Center at Kansas State University and the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets at the University of Kansas propose the project Learning, Exploration, and Application for Prospective Engineering Students (LEAPES) for the NDEP STEM grant program. Project LEAPES will situate Kansas, and the plains region, as a vital part of the DoD STEM ecosystem. The primary goal of Project LEAPES is to engage students in awareness, exploration, and preparation activities related to careers in aerospace engineering (AE), artificial intelligence (AI), and computer science (CS). The purpose of these activities is to create a pipeline of students pursuing AE, AI, and CS degrees and careers, as well as contribute to long-term student retention in these degree programs. Project LEAPES will target AE, AI, and CS technology applications for three reasons. First, locally, AE, AI, and CS are major industries in Kansas (i.e., Cessna, Garmin, Honeywell). Secondly, KU is a national and international leader in research and development of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and their expertise integrating AE, AI, and CS applications should be used as a catalyst to inspire young Kansans. Thirdly, we want to contribute to the national STEM ecosystem to combat global competition for leadership in AE, AI, and CS applications. Overall, the short-term objective of Project LEAPES is to increase student enrollment and retention in AE, AI, and CS degree programs over three years to further develop our STEM ecosystem across the state. We propose Project LEAPES to create a pipeline of AE, AI, and CS engineers primarily to address two identified problems of the STEM ecosystem in Kansas, regionally, and nationwide: (1) student attrition in AE, AI, and CS university degree programs; and (2) shortages of qualified AE, AI, and CS engineers in their respective industries. These areas of weakness could impact nearly 45,000 AE, AI, and CS jobs in Kansas, which are among the highest concentrations in the country. These areas of weakness are closely related, and Project LEAPES will address both areas by providing a series of activities for students and teachers, from middle school through high school. These activities will develop and accelerate conceptual knowledge, understanding, and application of AE, AI, and CS foundations. Project LEAPES will take a unique approach and focus initially on rural teachers and students in Kansas because several factors designate them as an underserved, yet promising group to strengthen the STEM ecosystem in Kansas. We will also prioritize underrepresented student populations (e.g., Black, female, Hispanic/Latinx) from rural and urban schools. To address the need to sustain and increase AE, AI, and CS degree enrollment and ultimately create more AE, AI, and CS engineers, Project LEAPES will focus on six objectives: (1) Engage underserved students in STEM programming, experiences, and coursework; (2) Train teachers to prepare underserved students for AE, AI, and CS degrees and careers; (3) Develop student awareness of major STEM problems and how careers in AE, AI, and CS engineering can address those problems; (4) Illustrate AE, AI, and CS engineers’ responsibilities to students through career exploration; (5) Prepare students for academic, career, and research expectations in AE, AI, and CS; (6) Increase student interest and enrollment in AE, AI, and CS degree programs over 3 years. To achieve these objectives, we will have three phases of Project LEAPES focused on AE, AI, and CS: (1) STEM Career Awareness Camp, grades 7-8; (2) STEM Career Exploration Experiences, grades 9-10; (3) STEM Academic & Career Preparation, grades 11-12. Project LEAPES will provide summer programming for nearly three thousand (3,000) students and three hundred sixty (360) teachers over three years. We will also provide experiential opportunities for students (in-person and VR), and professional learning sessions for teachers
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 10, 2021
- Source ID
- HQ00342110017
Entities
People
- Spencer Clark
Organizations
- Kansas State University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Washington Headquarters Services