WearTec: Empowering Youth to Create Wearable Technologies

WearTec is an NSF funded project focused on activities related to wearable technologies. The goals of the project are to develop an intervention that focuses on solving real world problems and practicing the engineering design process while immersed in the innovative area of wearable technologies. Curriculum has been developed focused on youth in grades 4 to 6 to teach engineering design, computer programming, and basic circuitry. The curriculum and associated professional development are designed to encourage connections between in-school and out-of-school time instruction. Results of this pilot study suggest that the WearTec activities promote female participation in engineering technology activities. In addition, student attitudes towards STEM improved as a result of participating in the program.