Engineering
Transformer
The K-12 STEM Center follows all University guidelines for protecting students, families, teachers, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn More.
Program Goals
Engineering Transformer aims to increase:
- Student interest, confidence, and motivation to continue learning STEM through hands-on, creative activities, projects, and challenges that utilize various technological tools and focus on real-world applications.
- Teachers’ confidence, understanding, and valuing of STEM through teacher training in technology and STEM curriculum.
- Families’ awareness, understanding, and value of STEM through Family STEM Nights.
A USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Center Program supported by The John Branca Family.
- Pilot schools: 42nd Street Elementary and Alexander Science Center School. Additional schools will be added each year, for a total of 10 participating schools.
- Program piloted as an afterschool STEM Club at each school, with materials and curriculum accessible to teachers during school hours pending in-school coordination.
- Monthly training for teachers on curriculum and technology.
- USC student assistants available as technical support.
- Family STEM Nights to engage families.
- End-of-year student showcase to highlight student projects.
Each unit is stand-alone, encompassing 3-4 introductory activities and projects. At the end of each unit there is an open-ended, creative challenge. At the end of the year, students are challenged to create or recreate a project from the year to highlight at a student showcase.
Technology
- Laptops
- Electrical circuits
- Robotics kits
- Drones
- Solar car kits
- 3D printers
Units
- Engineering Design Process
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Graphic Design
Contact: Dr. Mary Bonaparte-Saller, kbonapar@usc.edu, (213) 740 - 3998
Published on August 15th, 2022
Last updated on September 8th, 2022