Leigh Wilson at University of Idaho, College of Engineering
My Externship this year is with the College of Engineering at University of Idaho. I have had the privilege of helping to run 2 summer coding and robotics camps for middle schoolers in Moscow and in Boise. In addition, I have been tasked with reviewing, editing, revising, and creating new STEM activities for the College of Engineering Ambassadors to take into local classrooms and teach students STEM related hands-on activities for the purpose of igniting an interest in and passion for STEM related careers. The work this summer has been extremely meaningful by giving me more tools and knowledge to take back into my middle school classroom to be more effective at teaching STEM activities and at getting students more excited about coding, robotics, engineering, and STEM related areas. In addition, by revising and creating lesson plans for the Ambassador Activities, my own knowledge-base is growing and I am becoming more aware of resources that are available to help me teach STEM. I also am becoming more versed in the areas of engineering at the UI and what it takes to get into those careers. This Externship has definitely prepared me to help student be excited about and find the pathways available to STEM careers.