Thanks to the work of a dedicated teacher and the support of the Toshiba America Foundation, a new generation of engineers, architects and physicists are coming through Landstown High School.

Two years ago, students in Landstown’s Technology Academy tested Whitebox Learning, a web-based software program that allows users to test theories as 3D virtual models before building physical models.

This year, Mack Stevens, an academy technology teacher at Landstown High School, applied for and was awarded a Toshiba America Foundation Grant for $7,000 to fund access to the Whitebox Learning System as well as found a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Professional Learning Community (PLC) for the next three years.

This opportunity will allow Landstown’s math, science, technology, AVID and engineering teachers a chance to show more than 700 students the concepts behind building and testing bridges, making fuel efficient cars, designing faster dragsters and building more efficient planes.

The overall objective of using the Whitebox Learning System is for students to understand that science, technology and math work together to engineer products that make life easier and more enjoyable for everyone. It allows students to see there can be several correct answers to a single question as well as experience trial and error while working through key concepts.

In other words, it gives students a real world engineering experience.

Using this system, students will:

• Describe the science and math principles necessary to engineer dragsters, bridges and airplanes.
• Calculate and solve complex formulas that relate to the physics necessary to design dragsters, bridges and airplanes.
• Compare their designs with those of their classmates.
• Analyze the most efficient class design through time trials, competitive events, and stress testing.

Additionally, students with a variety of interests and socio-economic backgrounds will see that a career in science, math or engineering is not only attainable; it’s enjoyable.

In conjunction with this new opportunity, Stevens has organized the STEM PLC, whose purpose is to monitor students’ progress through guided projects from Whitebox Learning. The STEM PLC includes teachers from all STEM disciplines and focuses on how to impart to students that lessons in math and science classes are relevant to real world professions. THE STEM PLC also gives teachers the opportunity to collaborate to see the best methods of teaching the concepts more efficiently and in greater depth.

 

 

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