Kevin Western, PEMnDOT

SCC Design Manager

MnDOT Role in STEM Development with Stillwater

Schools

Project Objectives

• Help students love engineering

• Create hands-on experiences for area students/communities Direct connection to project and workers

• Long-term: Create a curriculum program that can be used for 8-10 years in Minnesota and Wisconsin

What Schools Told Us

Hands-on

Break down barriers

Broader than STEM

Schools areresource-strapped

Access toproject site

Let teachersdefine the needs

Live/recordedproject work

Benefit all grades

Mentorships

Problem-solution formats

Project Assets

Professional staff— we are mobile

We love engineering

Evolving project site

Extensive materials

Multiple project challenges

Extended design/construction timetable

Mentorship structure

Ability to generate public interest

National contacts

Project Elements

• St. Croix Crossing in Schools Project engineers presenting to school groups Information for teachers and students

• Project site tours via paddle boats

• Mentorship

• Curriculum program

St Croix Crossing in Schools

• If they ask, we try to attend

• Over two dozen education related presentations to date

• Engineers from SCC, MnDOT Bridge Office, WisDOT

• Project team’s role: Logistics Scheduling

Project Site Tours

• Experiential for students this summer

• St Croix Boat & Packet Co. willing to hostschool tours at lower rate

• Challenges Space limitations Satisfying different grades

• Project team’s role Outreach to school districts (Jan. 2015) Scheduling, Logistics, including speakers

Mentorships

• Connect high school students with mentor engineers from WisDOT and MnDOT

• Past interest from high school students• Project team’s role

Outreach to school districts (Jan. 2015) Resource list Other civil areas as well

Why Curriculum Program?

• Viable long term• Local interest in Bridge construction• Landmark bridge – long term interest

• Unique approach – teachers and engineers working together

• True partnership with local schools

• Best way to inspire young engineers