STARS Computer Club
The computer club was adopted as an innovative method to challenge the exceptional kids and give marginal students (i.e. those disinterested in school) motivation and a foundation to get back to work and be directly involved in improving their educational future. We introduced students to many environment as an enrichment activity to help students at all levels (i.e. from struggling through gifted) to develop a stronger foundation and passion for learning. The aim of the program was to motivate students to be more actively involved in their education by developing their own intellectual structures for learning (Papert). When designing our initial program, we brainstormed methods to target student interest, learning styles, and cognitive needs while developing enrichment activities to have the greatest impact on student motivation and their acquisition of knowledge.
Outreach & Recruiting SimBuilder Science Tigers
This project was inspired by the educational research where scienctist are attempting to use video games as a solution to students¡¯ lack of interest in academics. This type of game authoring software is being used nationwide to enhance students¡¯ interest in learning.
Camp ROC Project
The ROC (Reaching Our Children) summer day camp was held this year during June 5th -July 28th. The students who participated in the program consisted of ten 5-7 year olds, eleven 8-10 year olds, and seven 11-12 year olds. They were instructed by Auburn University College of Engineering students, reading specialist and other volunteers. The purpose of this camp was to keep children engaged and improve their deficiencies, especially in reading, computer literacy and math. The instruction for the computer component met as three age based classes. The selected topics for these classes were introductory concepts based on what would be helpful for the students different grade levels.