An Electrical Engineering Summer Academy for Middle School and High School Students

An Electrical Engineering Summer Academy for Pre-College Students was held at the University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, during the summers of 2007 and 2008. The Academy participants included students having just completed 7th to 11th grade and teachers from middle school through high school. The students and teachers participated in team-building, professional development, and technical activities designed to teach them about the engineering profession and the field of electrical engineering. Activities included laboratories in electrical circuits, designing an electric car, soldering, a field trip, and discussion about ethics. Students worked in two- and four-person teams and made presentations on their experiences. The Academy was evaluated using formal assessment instruments and faculty observations. Both individual activities and the overall program were evaluated. The evaluation of the 2007 Academy revealed ratings of 4.5 or greater out of 5 on most aspects of the Academy, though some areas indicated a need for improvement, such as clarity of written materials and the availability of additional material for advanced students who finished early. Improvement in knowledge was demonstrated on over 50% of the questions on a survey administered at the beginning and again at the end of the Academy. Changes were proposed and implemented for the 2008 Academy in response to the assessment data. The impact of these changes and the lessons learned in the process are also presented.