Decisions must be made at the age of 16 and 17 that can have long-lasting effects. High school students are asked to select a specific degree, a university, and sometimes even a specific discipline with very little basis for making the decision. The EXPLORE program was piloted at Dalhousie University in the Summer of 2014 and 2015 to help girls in high school make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue an engineering degree. 10 students signed up each summer to EXPLORE engineering design in a compressed 2-week schedule where they participated in 3 short design projects, culminating in a major project for a client from the community. The girls developed documentation, presentation, leadership, and teamwork skills. They learned CAD software, practiced 3-D printing, and were exposed to robotic programming. They built and tested a design for a community partner and defended the design to a room of people. The students were introduced to visualization techniques, the engineering design process, log books, and other essential components that they would only otherwise encounter during their first year in an engineering program. This paper will document the elements of the course that help the girls make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue engineering from two perspectives: the instructors' and the student's.
Involving High School Students In A University Level Mechanical Engineering Design Competition