Chandler, AZ - Educators' Workshop

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Chandler, Arizona in Spring 2016. The Solar 4R Schools team had an opportunity to work intimately with the East Valley Chapter of the organization Engineering for Kids. Educators spent time designing the heating compartment for a solar oven (even overheating leftover pizza) and enjoyed tremendously the time spent designing and redesigning solar cars to work in the bright Arizona sun! East Valley Engineering for Kids expects to reach 150+ students over the course of the first year from its Solar 4R Schools Educator Workshop. The program is well equipped for student engineering challenges but was looking for more electrical engineering in their STEM summer camps and afterschool activities for PK-8th grade students. East Valley Engineering for Kids received a science kit to allow for students to design and build solar circuits and solar cars.

Ron Hoagland, Program Director, East Valley Engineering for Kids, says: “We absolutely loved the solar car curriculum! We loved how open ended the building of the cars is, allowing for freedom in design and modification, which is what our programs are all about! In speaking with my teachers after the class, they were excited about the various ways we could incorporate this into our classes, camps and parties. The videos and visuals supporting the curriculum were great as well!”  

Arconic Foundation is proud to support Solar 4R Schools and bring this innovative program to Arconic communities nationwide. The mission of the Arconic Foundation is to advance science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and skills training worldwide, with a special emphasis on engaging and creating access for underrepresented and underserved groups. Through our partnerships, we are helping to change the perception of manufacturing by creating excitement around the rewarding career opportunities available to the next generation of talent – from career and technical education to the most advanced robotics and digital manufacturing. Solar 4R Schools is a proven and innovative model that we believe can bring to life the issues and solutions around energy management. Energy is a critical component of what we do in industry and in all of our personal lives – it is a topic that we want our youth educated about so that they can solve the problems of tomorrow.