kristy m. collins kid's tech university
DESCRIPTION
Presentation from the SiS Catalyst and EUCU.NET Technucation conferernce at the University of Porto, 28th November to 1st December 2013. Workshop A - The Content.TRANSCRIPT
Kids’ Tech University
Program Manager:Kristy Collins, Ph.D.
Primary goal: Creating the future workforce in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) by sparking kids’ interest in these fields.
~Created in 2008, first program 2009~Collaboration between Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and Virginia 4-H~Now includes 4 programs at 3 universities, 4 sites~Kids ages 9-12 and their parents
Current KTU programs
• Franchise model- we do registration, evaluation– Virginia Tech
• 450 kids• Spring semester- 4 event dates, Jan., Feb., March and April
– Bowling Green State University• 150 kids• Spring semester- 4 event dates, Jan., Feb., March and April
– Virginia State University• 125 kids• Fall semester- 2 event dates, Oct. and Nov.
– Virginia Tech Southwest Center in Abingdon, VA• 100 kids• Fall/Spring semester- 2 event dates, Nov. and April
Structure of program
• Morning- Interactive Session hosted by a world renown scientist– Title in the form of a question– Audio/visual sent out to another hall for parents– Kids divided into rows by last name (about 10); volunteer (VT
undergrad/grad student) checks kids into row from parents• Lunch • Afternoon- exhibits by students, professors, clubs and local
companies– Parents required to attend with children
• Virtual KTU program (http://ktu.vbi.vt.edu)– Can be used for all KTU programs– Open source- can be used in formal learning as well
Content in games and social media
http://ktu.vbi.vt.edu
Content in K-12 outreach programs
• Virginia Bioinformatics Institute K-12 initiative– All K-12 programs are ran under this program– Including:• Virus Tracker in a Box program
– NIH (National Institutes of Health) funded- PI- Kristy Collins
• Modeling of Infectious Disease High School Program– NIH funded- PI- Kristy Collins
Used in Grant Proposals
• Research proposals designed using KTU concept– NIH and NSF (National Science Foundation)
proposals– PI- Kristy Collins; Co-PI- Dr. Kathleen Jamison, Dr.
Reinhard Laubenbacher and Dr. Chris Lawrence• NSF proposals– Exhibitor booths– Contribute to Virtual KTU proposals
Content in public media
Content in school curriculums
• Teacher Development workshop involved with every KTU program
• Virginia 4-H administers this aspect for the VT program
• Dr. Kathleen Jamison, Virginia 4-H