View the K-12 outreach activities of Prof. Iskander. Iskander’s philosophy is to employ sensors and robotics in K-12 classrooms to engage students and excite them about pursuing their STEM studies. He supervised the activities of over 50 Fellows deployed as engineers in residence in a variety of schools. The following are some of his outreach projects, where he served as PI or Co-PI.
Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors, and Engineering
During the summer of 2007, The Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors, and Engineering WISE introduced 20 middle and high school teachers to hands-on engineering design in an intensive 2-week residential workshop at Polytechnic University.
Revitalizing Achievement by Using Instrumentation in Science Education (RAISE)
RAISE was an NSF funded project in which undergraduate and graduate engineering students (fellows) assisted high school science teachers with sensor-based experiments as lab exercises to expand on concepts taught in the classroom. By using sensors and computerized data acquisition, the RAISE project sought to enhance students’ academic achievement; excite them about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); and inspire them to pursue STEM careers.
Applying Mechatronics to Promote Science (AMPS)
AMPS was an NSF funded collaborative relationship between Polytechnic University and six New York City middle schools involving professors, graduate Fellows, and middle school faculty. An array of exciting activities was employed to (1) engage middle school students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies through mechatronics-enabled science labs and robotics competitions; (2) entice students to pursue STEM education and careers; and (3) provide technology literacy and professional development to teachers.
DR K-12: Teaching STEM with Robotics: Design, Development, and Testing of a Research-Based Professional Development Program for Teachers
Using design-based research, with teachers as design partners, the an NSF funded project is creating and refininh project-based, hands-on curricula such that science and math content inherent in robotics and related engineering design practices are learned. To provide teachers with effective models to capitalize on robotics for elucidating science and math concepts, a design-based Professional Development program was built using principles of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK).
Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Through a grant from the Pinkerton Foundation, ARISE i provides an advanced STEM research opportunity to New York City high school students lacking access to high quality STEM education experiences. This full-time, seven week program includes: college level workshops and seminars, a high level research experience in participating NYU faculty labs, and mentoring in that placement by a graduate or postdoctoral student. In the seminars and workshops, students are introduced to the scientific method and ethics, data collection and analysis, research practices and lab safety.
