1st Qtr 2012 Newsletter

A new online volunteer system was launched in Knox County Schools in January! This system allows teachers, administrators and other school personnel to upload requests for volunteers and supplies into a database. Volunteers and community members have the ability to register and find a need that they can help meet. This system will allow for tracking of volunteer hours and impact. Knox County teachers are encouraged to register and begin loading needs into the new system.

Right: Members of Gibbs High School, Corryton, TN rookie Team make last minute adjustments to robot after inspection.

Other local FIRST award winners are: Hardin Valley Academy Team # 3824— Delphi Engineering Excellence Award, Mike Wehrenberg—Volunteer of the Year Award. Mr. Wehrenberg is the Vice President and General Manager of Kendall Electric of Knoxville. This years competition drew over 50 teams from the US and Canada. Volunteers will be needed next year for this regional event to be held March 29th-30th, please watch for details in early 2013. To learn more about the Smoky Mountains Regional visit our website at www.tnfirst.org. Information about the World Championship can be found at http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/regional-events.

Below: Robot action on the field at the Knoxville Convention Center!

Pictured below are members of the Oak Ridge High School FIRST Wildbots team #4265 making adjustments to their robot prior to competing in this year’s competition. The Wildbots won the Rookie All-Star Award qualifying them to participate in the FRC World Championship to be held April 25-28 at the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri.

2012 FIRST Smoky Mountains Regional Tremendous Success!

Important STEM Dates and Events

Knox County Schools

2012 SASEF FAIR March 26th-29th Thompson Boling

Arena

Community Forum Proposed

2013 Budget March 29th 6pm

Fulton HS

School Holiday-Schools Closed April 6th & 9th

Dine out for Education April 17th

Local Restaurants

TCAP Testing April 23rd—30th

High School Graduations

May 17th—19th Civic Coliseum

High School Finals

May 21 & 22nd

End 9 weeks Grading Period

May 23rd

Last day for Students

May 23rd 1/2 day

East TN Economic Council

Becky Ashe, Principal of the L&N

STEM Academy Mach 30th 7:30am

Knox County Board of Education (All meetings begin

at 5pm) Work Sessions

April 2nd April 16th April 30th May 21st June 4th

Regular sessions

April 4th May 2nd June 6th

To register go to www.knoxschools.org and click on the

“Volunteer Registration” button.

Knox County Schools Launches Volunteer System

To be removed from our email list please email aestes@knoxvillechamber.com or call 865-637-4550.

Skype in the Classroom— Here is an interesting article “50 Awesome Ways to use SKYPE in the Classroom”

Looking to Connect— Check out this blog for STEM educators; StemEducation at Blogspot.

GPS and GIS (we have KGIS in Knox County) Lesson Plans—Go to the Science Spot

Tutoring Site for Struggling Students— Khan Academy

STEM Newsletter for Teachers— Click here and register to receive SPARK

K-12 Curricula Community— www.curriki.org/

Y-12’s Teacher’s Toolbox—http://www.y12.doe.gov/missions/complementarywork/nstc/toolbox.php

Resources for STEM Educators

Michelle Foster (left) of Y-12 Facilities, Infrastructure and Services, demonstrates the use of an ultrasonic detector with Oak Ridge High School sophomores Morgan Grady, left, and Samantha Bell at Y-12's New Hope Center on Thursday, February 23, during a first-time Y-12 event in recognition of National Engineers Week (February 19-25). Some 400 9-12 grade girls from area schools were encouraged to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through the Introduce a Girl to Engineering event. The girls were able to interact with women working in the engineering field and experience hands-on activities at this event. Organizations, such as Women in Nuclear, the American Nuclear Society, the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, also were on hand to talk with the girls.

Y-12 Hosts 400 Girls during Engineer’s Week Event

Important Dates and Events (Continued from

Page One)

Oak Ridge Schools

School Holiday-Schools Closed

April 6th

TCAP Testing April 23rd—April

30th

High School Graduation May 31st

High School Finals May 30th –June 1st

Last day for

Students June 1st

Oak Ridge

Board of Education

Work Sessions (Time varies) March 26th May 22nd

Regular sessions

(7pm) March 26th April 30th May 21st June 25th

The team from Bearden High School; Tor Voohres, Dalton Chaffee, Andrew Stripling, Hayes Griffin, Cole Graham, and Coach Julie Smalling took home the first place trophy and also received $1,000 cash prize, and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington in late April for the national competition. The Farragut High School team finished second in the event. To learn more visit http://www.orau.gov/sciencebowl/.

Bearden High School Team

Wins DOE Science Bowl!

Send to Ahnna A. Estes at aestes@knoxvillechamber.com

Stories to Share or Ideas for Activities?

M. Carl Wheeler, retired engineer and Vols4STEM

volunteer, coordinated with the Lead Teacher,

Rhea Carmon to assemble a panel of five

professional women to participate in the round

table discussion on "Women in Science and

Engineering." The week of February 19 was

National Engineer Week. Each of the professionals

brought a little different prospective to the overall

discussion. Dr. Washington has a PhD in Public

Health from the University of Kentucky College of

Public Health. She is currently an Assistant

Professor at South College School of Pharmacy.

Ms. Lakeisha Walker has a Bachelor of Science

Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is

currently a Scientific Associate within the Neutron

Scattering Sciences Directorate of Oak Ridge

National Laboratory. Ms. Fanesha Powell possess

a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering

from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical

University and in working toward a Master's of

Science Degree in Management. Ms. Fanesha has

more than ten years experience working in the Civil

Engineering area. Ms. Rose Weaver holds a

Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from

Berea College. She also has a Masters Certificate

in Government Contracting from George

Washington University. She is currently a Buyer

with WSI in Oak Ridge. Ms. Mea Reeves holds a

Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical

Engineering from the University of Tennessee and

a Master's Certificate in Government Contracting

from George Washington University. She currently

serves as Lean Six Sigma Black Belt within the

Productivity Organization at B & W Y-12 in Oak

Ridge. Each of the panelists were presented with

"Certificate's of Appreciation" for active support in

the "Women in Science and Engineering Day" at

Austin-East Magnet High School. Mr. M. Carl

Wheeler can be reached at 865-693-7809 or email

cmw1146@gmail.com .

The goals of Vols4STEM is to

improve k-12 Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Math (STEM) education and

workforce development, by

getting more STEM professionals engaged

in STEM outreach activities to area youth. Additional information about vols4STEM can

be found at: www.vols4stem.org or

email to: vols4stem@gmail.com.

Panel Discussion at Austin East

High School

Pictured are: Dr. Regina Washington, South College; Lekeisha

Walker, ORNL; Fanesha Powell, TVA; Rose Weaver, WSI; and

Mea Reeves, B & W Y-12. Not Pictured is M. Carl Wheeler

vols4STEM contact for Austin East Magnet High School.

The Girl Scouts are encouraging girls to explore their scientific sides with Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with National Leadership Journeys and National Proficiency Badges. To learn more visit: http://www.girlscouts.org/program/basics/science/

Girl Scouts Focus on STEM

Vols4STEM Volunteer, M. Carl Wheeler presented basic electrical concepts to two classes at Vine Middle School on March 12, 2012. Carl Wheeler coordinated this activity with teacher, Mrs. Julia Walker, who is the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher. Mr. Wheeler used test equipment such as volt/ohm/milliamp meter and oscillator scope as a means to measure voltage and current. The difference between alternating current (ac) and direct current (dc) was explained and demonstrated using the test equipment. Basic ohms laws, which is used to determine voltage, resistance and current is electrical circuits was explained and demonstrated. Electro-mechanical solenoids were discussed and passed around for review and understanding by the students. They were given the opportunity to inspect and ask questions about this device. Uses of the solenoids were discussed and how they are used in today's cars. The students were allowed to connect an electrical circuit using the solenoid and a dc power supply and were asked to explain the solenoid operation. Handout items included resistors, capacitors, diodes, and different types of batteries. The student were very enthusiastic and had numerous questions about the overall presentation/demonstration. For any additional information about this demonstration, please contact Carl Wheeler at his email account, cmw1146@gmail.com.

Vols4STEM School Contact Presents an Overview and Demonstration of Basic

Electrical Concepts at Vine Middle School