A national Web-based program is working to increase student interest in science and technology by giving young people an opportunity to make a difference in their communities.
Organized into teams, students are using STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to develop solutions to real-world challenges.
That’s the word from the program’s sponsor—the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). The primary vehicle for accomplishing this objective with middle-school students is the eCybermission program.
The program, which is administrated by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), is an online learning competition designed to promote self-discovery and help students recognize real-life applications of STEM.
Teams from all over the country propose solutions to real problems in their communities using the scientific method or the engineering design process and compete for state, regional and national awards.
Each team comprises three or four students plus one adult team adviser. Students must be U.S. citizens or legal U.S. residents and must be officially enrolled at a U.S.-based public, private or home school, or at a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school abroad.
Students can win on a state, regional and national level, with national winning teams receiving up to $8,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds, valued at maturity. The registration deadline for the competition is Wednesday, January 15, 2014.
A Resource For Teachers
The competition provides opportunities for active learning and engagement. Some teachers use the program as an after-school or extracurricular club activity, while others integrate the competition into their lesson plans.
There are also full-time professionals who volunteer in the eCybermission competition and provide students with assistance based on their area of expertise. They assist teams with their projects, review and score them, and help promote the competition with students, teachers, at the workplace and in the community.
Looking Toward The Future
The United States Army has long recognized that a scientifically and technologically literate citizenry is our nation’s best hope for a secure, rewarding and successful future. This and its other programs for students were created with this in mind.
For more information, visit www.ecybermission.com or contact eCybermission Mission Control at 1-866-GO-CYBER (462-9237) or via e-mail at missioncontrol@ ecybermission.com. — (NAPS)
