Outreach to K-12 programs with a mobile laboratory: hands-on electronics manufacturing

This paper reports on the current status of a K-12 outreach program to promote engineering, technology and science. This program, funded by the IEEE Foundation, involves a number of outreach programs, including deployments of a Mobile Electronics Manufacturing Laboratory (MEML) to area middle schools to run a series of hands-on demonstrations, as well as teaming elementary classes with an engineer who makes monthly visits to the classroom to engage the students in other hands-on activities. This "Adopt a Classroom" project can be very successful if the engineer volunteers can be identified and given appropriate support. The overall intent of the final report on this project will be to help programs set up and successfully implement outreach programs to reach K-12 students to stimulate interest in engineering and technology, which should also be helpful in recruitment: this report discusses the current status of the project, which continues through May 2002.