|
Detroit Schools Partner for
Engineering Success
Stacy Andell for
www.schoolsk-12.com, June 2006
For more articles like this
visit
http://www.bridges4kids.org.
The Detroit Schools has partnered with local universities to get
students thinking about careers in science and engineering.
Students at different levels of the Detroit Public Schools are
being targeted in a statewide effort to get more women and
minorities enrolled in engineering programs. One program that
makes this its mission is the Detroit Area Pre College
Engineering Program (DAPCEP).
The Detroit Area Pre College Engineering Program
DAPCEP works with area students in three main ways. It partners
with local public school teachers to design a curriculum that
encourages creative thinking in the sciences. To fulfill this
goal, DAPCEP sponsors science fairs, field trips, and university
seminars for students and teachers.
DAPCEP also runs a Saturday program in conjunction with local
universities and corporations to provide enrichments activities
for students in grades 4 – 12. These activities focus on
different aspects of math, computer science, engineering,
physics, chemistry, and communication skills.
In addition to its programs during the school year, DAPCEP
brings local public school students into universities for summer
programs. Some of the summer programs are residential, with
students living on campus for a few weeks and getting a real
taste for the college life. Other programs provide
transportation to and from campus.
University Partnerships
DAPCEP’s list of university partners is certainly impressive.
• University of Detroit Mercy
• Michigan State University
• University of Michigan Ann Arbor
• Wayne State University
• Lawrence Technical University
• Oakland University
• University of Michigan Dearborn
• Michigan Technological University
The Little Engineer Program
In addition to their very successful middle school and high
school programs, DAPCEP also has something for smaller learners.
Its Little Engineer Program is for students in grades K – 3.
These Saturday classes for both children and their parents focus
on teaching and learning math, science, pre-engineering, and
reading.
How to Join DAPCEP
The selection process for DAPCEP can be daunting for parents
anxious to give this opportunity to their children. DAPCEP holds
an open house each fall for prospective students and parents.
Students must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average in all their
school subjects. Other factors, such as attendance, and taking
certain academic subjects in the regular school curriculum, such
as physics, chemistry, and higher level math, also play a role
in student selection. For many programs, students also need
letters of recommendation from their math and science teachers.
Summer Course Offerings
DAPCEP’s university partnerships are providing a range of summer
courses of Detroit area students. Here are some highlights:
• Watershed Investigators (University of Detroit Mercy)
Students will investigate local water quality in a series of
real – world experiments.
• How Math Rocks Our World (Tabernacle)
Students will see how their math and science skills compare with
other students around the world, in particular China and India.
• Wireless Integrated Microsystems (Michigan State University)
Hands – on activities and presentations from nine different
engineering majors offered at the university.
• Engineering Intensive Workshop ( Michigan Technological
University)
Students choose two areas of study, ranging from Mechanical
Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Aided Engineering,
Computer Programming, Material Engineering, Chemical Engineering
and others.
All of the DAPCEP programs emphasize the Detroit Area Public
School District’s commitment to ensuring that students have the
opportunity to explore many challenging areas and gain further
insights into the college experience.
back to the top ~
back to Breaking News
~ back to
What's New
|
