Mar 10, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
Students from Pukalani Elementary School’s robotics teams competed in the invitational Hawaii State VEX IQ Robotics Championship held last month at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu. The Imagineer teams placed highly in Driver and Programming Skills and won 1st place in the State for their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research Project. By winning the Research category and placing 3rd and 4th in the state programming rankings, Pukalani’s Imagineers received invitations for both their teams to compete at the VEX IQ World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky in April 2016.
“The first-place project, The Dangers of Cell Phone Radiation, demonstrated how cell phones work and most importantly how radiation is emitted from the phones,” said Jasmine Domingo, Pukalani Elementary STEM Coordinator. The other team tied for 2nd place in the Teamwork Challenge for their project on “The Benefits of Video Games” which explained how video games improve physical skills with additional advantages for students with disabilities.
“The team’s overall success has been the culmination of a strong commitment at Pukalani Elementary towards STEM education,” said Domingo. “The last two years the Imagineers have been fortunate enough to receive grant money from Maui Economic Development Board’s Ke Alahele Fund to start and grow the robotics program.”
This year the students worked on VEX IQ Challenges that featured all aspects of making a robot which included programming the robot to run autonomously and driving the robot remotely. “I helped design, build and program our robot to pick up balls, dump them in the basket and go up the ramp,” said 5th grader Alden Johnson. “We built over 50 different robot designs and over 20 different claw designs until we found one that worked. Being part of our Pukalani robotics team has taught me that when you work with others and stick together you can do amazing things!”
The Pukalani Elementary team is seeking sponsors to help ensure that every student will be able to take part in the April 2016 VEX IQ World Championship in Kentucky. If you would like to sponsor the team, contact Jasmine Domingo at (808) 573-8760.
Part of the Hawaii state VEX IQ Robotics Championship is the autonomous programming skills challenge, in which students write code to control the robot’s behavior. It was here the Pukalani Imagineers have had much success, and are currently ranked in the top 20 elementary teams in the world and 3rd and 4th highest in Hawaii.
Jasmine Domingo, Pukalani Elementary School STEM Coordinator
Jan 6, 2016 | Education, Innovation, Stemworks
In celebration of Computer Science Education Week in December, Hour of Code, a nationwide campaign featuring free tutorials designed to get students interested in computer science, was held at Kamaliʻi Elementary School in Kihei. Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project (WIT) was a sponsor for the one-hour introduction. Children and adults were taught basic concepts of computer programming that offered them learning tools needed to create and communicate new ideas. “Hour of Code is an international movement to promote computer science education and call awareness to exciting 21st century career paths,” said Peter Hansen, Kamaliʻi School computer teacher. “Learning to code helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and originality. One hour is enough to learn that computer science is fun and creative, that it is accessible for all ages, for everyone.”
The tutorials teach a computer language called JavaScript which is designed to perform a certain task. By dragging and placing blocks of code in the computer program, the code tells the computer what to display on the screen. A JavaScript function is executed when something invokes it; hence students learn that all they see and do begins with lines of computer code. “I hope that through this event Kamaliʻi School’s technology program will receive some attention and parents and community members will begin to understand the importance of having computer science education for all students, even at the elementary level,” explained Hansen. Lucy Dryhurst, Kamaliʻi 5th grader said, “I learned through Hour of Code that by following directions on a game with a lot of thinking steps, I can write code. I like doing it a lot. It is fun and creative!”
“WIT is an extraordinary program,” Hansen noted. “They offered monetary support that made it possible to provide food and drinks for Hour of Code, not to mention donating the prizes and connecting us with volunteers.” In addition to this event, WIT provides professional educational opportunities for teachers and workshops for students, developing Maui’s future workforce.
On behalf of myself and Kamali’i School thank you very much, WIT, for your continuing support for Maui County teachers and students.
Peter Hansen, Kamaliʻi School Computer Teacher
Sep 9, 2015 | Education, Stemworks
“Pathways to Our Future”, the annual Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner and Auction presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), was recently held at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea. Providing the stirring opening with oli and pule were Molokai Middle School students Heona Ayau-Odom, Keaheakekehau Ross and their teacher Iolani Kuoha. All three participate in the Hawaiian Immersion Program at the school as well as in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. “Both girls felt blessed to be part of the event and they have great STEM projects,” said Kuoha, who was named Educator of the Year for 2014 by the Hawai’i Association of Middle Schools. “This year, thanks to MEDB’s Ke Alahele Education Fund, Molokai students were among countless youth statewide empowered through STEM skills. Each semester I get to teach them how to identify problems in the community and how to solve them with answers pertaining to STEM education. In addition, I’m able to exemplify Hawaiian culture and bring it into the 21st century.”
“STEM skills are important to the success of our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui. “We couldn’t do this without MEDB,” he explained. “Hawai’i is in the forefront because of their commitment.” Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, out of the country during the event, sent this message, “There is nothing more important than preparing our children for the future. By encouraging our students to learn more about STEM subjects we hope that one day they will bring new industries back home, diversify our economy and build a more resilient and sustainable community.”
“MEDB has worked vigorously throughout its history to enhance education and training in our community,” said MEDB President and CEO Jeanne Unemori Skog. “This past school year, the awards enabled robotics teams to compete on Maui, Oahu and the Mainland. STEM curricula also empowered students to map our island’s coral reefs, explore our solar system and much more. Thanks to generous businesses and other community stakeholders, we have touched thousands of students,” said Skog.
Aug 19, 2015 | Stemworks
Earlier this summer, middle-school girls had the opportunity to attend Excite Camp, a Women in Technology (WIT) program sponsored by the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB). The main goal of Excite Camp is to educate participants in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. In addition to the learning experience, WIT believes it is important for the girls to see the connection between our cultural heritage and scientific technology. For example, girls take part in events that include geospatial technologies as well as tours of historical sites that integrate Hawaiian traditions into hands-on STEM learning activities.
“The last 15 years, Excite Camp has been held on Maui and open to all Maui County middle-school girls,” said Mapu Quitazol, WIT Program Manager. “This year we are able to expand and take our Excite Camp to Kona, Oahu and Molokai. Each island has the same agenda but very different activities and cultural site visits.”
The camp attendance of between 24 and 30 girls creates a small, intimate group. Each participant joins a group of four and is led by a female mentor. The mentor, who acts as a role model, explains the activities and works in close proximity with each student which helps them feel comfortable in their surroundings. “At the end of the four-day program the girls are no longer strangers, but colleagues and friends,” Quitazol noted. “In addition to getting excited about STEM, they learn the value of teamwork, communication and honoring their island heritage.”
“During Excite Camp the role of engineers was made clearer. It also made me more excited about college and my future career,” said Ruby, an Excite Camp participant. “It was wonderful having people encourage us during Excite Camp,” said Ruthie, another Excite Camp participant. “The mentors made us feel that we are smart and can do anything we put our mind to.”
Jul 30, 2015 | Education, Stemworks
The recent Mini HI STAR (Hawaii Student/Teacher Research) Program of the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, IfA, was sponsored by Maui Economic Development Board and Air Force Research Laboratory. The program provided 11 high school students from Maui and Molokai with four days of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. The IFA curriculum gave these students the necessary research skills and background to conduct original research projects.
Dr. JD Armstrong, Maui Technology Education and Outreach Specialist at IFA, and teachers, led the students in morning physics and astronomy lectures. Afternoon sessions included the measurement of the positions and brightness of objects in space using image processing and photometric techniques. “We delivered the basic content in talks with PowerPoint® slides that instructed the students on selecting the celestial object they wanted to research for their group presentations,” said Dr. Armstrong. Students observed the sky as it is seen from different parts of the earth remotely via the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network. “Access to world-class research equipment offered the participants live views of outer space beamed straight to their computers,” Dr. Armstrong explained. “They were able to analyze the results of the collected image data by processing images with Astrometrica, a software tool that calculates precise positions of the celestial bodies.”
“The HI STAR program experience has helped broaden my knowledge on various astronomy topics,” said Celeste Jongeneelen, a home-schooled 10th grader. “We got to research exoplanets, asteroids and comets, young stellar objects and double stars!” Jongeneelen’s group presented a talk entitled Photometry Analysis of Two Young Open Star Clusters. Their objective was to identify candidate hydrogen disk stars. “Images of two young open star clusters were taken with red, infrared and H-alpha filters,” she explained. “We did the photometry on these images and made color-color charts. If any outliers showed excess in H-alpha in the charts, those are the potential disk stars.” “Our results showed a few candidate disk stars,” Jongeneelen added. “However, further analysis is needed to confirm these candidates.”
Jul 15, 2015 | Education, Stemworks
The fun, new STEMworks AFTERschool Program for the 2015-2016 school year, presented by the Women in Technology (WIT) project of the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), is for boys and girls, grades 6, 7 and 8. The program addresses the need to stimulate interest and skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and to apply it to real world issues. It hopes to nurture student interest into their high school and post-secondary education, as well as prepare them to meet the workforce needs of their communities in viable careers. “STEMworks AFTERschool curricula are developed in close consultation with industry and education partners,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB’s vice president and director of WIT. “The flexible structure of the curriculum allows teachers to align with in-school science and math curricula and the needs of students.”
The program includes an emphasis on coordination between the academic and enrichment activities offered in the after-school program and the coursework students complete during the school day. “The enrichment lessons and activities are interactive in order to teach the curriculum in a different way. This can benefit students who struggle in a regular classroom environment,” said Wilkins. Unlike any other class in Hawai’i’s middle and high school curriculum, STEMworks is a multi-faceted, hands-on program where students get to use the most current, high-end technologies in actual learning projects. “This is more than an after-school science club!” Wilkins said, noting participants will acquire skills to adapt to the rapidly changing technology landscape.
“Having the partnership with MEDB and the 21st Century grant to form the STEMworks AFTERschool program will provide our students with state-of-the-art equipment, trained staff to run the programs and support for training,” said Jennifer Suzuki of Maui Waena Intermediate. Other schools in the STEMworks AFTERschool program are: Iao Intermediate, Lanai High and Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and St. Anthony Junior High.
Jun 3, 2015 | Education, Stemworks
King Kekaulike High School students credited a STEMworks™ lab as a key component in their third consecutive Program Impact Assessment award at the 2015 STEM Conference. “There are so many students in STEMworks™ lab across the state doing amazing work, so it is truly an honor to receive this award,” STEM teacher and Kekaulike STEMworks™ Facilitator Emily Haines-Swatek said.
Kekaulike picked up three wins at the 2015 STEM Conference: On-Site Hackathon, Web Design and the Program Impact Assessment Competition. The three students behind the PIA award were Maya Ooki, Alesha Menor and Jeremie Amano. The trio gave a presentation on their school’s STEMworks™ lab and how students use it to create and collaborate on community service projects. Amano and his teammates, Gabriel Rayburn and Wyatt Roan, were a part of the winning On-Site Hackathon team. Their project featured a proposed mobile phone app users would tap to send a picture and a geo-spatial coordinate to the Maui Invasive Species Committee. The team behind the Web Design award – Dylan Franco and Andrew Rezac – designed a Web site for Kekaulike’s Digital Media class, using videos, graphics, music and photography.
Amano and Ooki are 11th-graders who have attended the STEM Conference for three years in a row. “The STEM Conference is my favorite time of the school year,” Ooki said. She said she enjoys meeting STEM industry professionals and likes the chance to practice her public speaking skills. For Amano, the STEM Conference is a chance to get more insight into STEM careers. “I get to learn from these professionals about what they do in their career and what they have done that got them where they are,” he said. The annual STEM Conference is presented by Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project. WIT’s STEMworks™ program provides hands-on access to the most current, high-end technologies to produce community service learning projects. Students in STEMworks™ labs are afforded the opportunity to work with local industry partners and gain skills ranging from animation to computer-aided design to engineering design and GPS/GIS. STEMworks currently offers free summer Software Camp Series for students; for information visit http://www.womenintech.com/category/workshops/ or phone Lalaine Pasion at 875-2341.
May 14, 2015 | Education, Stemworks
With the 2015 STEM Conference experience behind him, sophomore Brendan Geffe says he’s more determined to pursue a career in engineering. “I saw how I could take what I learn and apply it to everyday life,” the Maui High School sophomore said. He and classmates Marston Lau and Son Phan along with senior Tally Nakamura captured the On-Site CAD (Computer-Aided Design) Project award at this year’s conference held at the Wailea Marriott. “We were pretty excited about winning,” Geffe said.
Using CAD technology, the four designed a custom bike light for a children’s bicycle. The contest required certain specifications including that the device had to be water and heat resistant and have a minimum light intensity (or brightness). The young user would need to have the ability to adjust the direction and angle when installing the device on the bike. The light, as a 3-D model, had to be completed within just 24 hours of receiving the specifications. Geffe served as the team captain, using his and Marston’s knowledge and experience with CAD to come up with a battery operated, detachable bike light estimated to cost $20 each if it ever should be developed and created for the market. According to Geffe, Phan took the lead in researching electronics and Nakamura put together a PowerPoint presentation for the conference judges. “We all worked together and divided the work based on our strengths,” Geffe said.
In addition to winning the team On-Site CAD Project award, Geffe was selected as the individual winner for the CAD Showcase Application Competition. In this particular contest, Geffe created a rendering of an underwater current turbine model. It took him about two days to use CAD software to design a computer model and write up the specifications. “It was fun for me,” Geffe said.
Apr 29, 2015 | Education, Stemworks
Molokai Middle School students haven’t been able to stay quiet about their experiences at the 2015 Hawaii STEM Conference. “They all loved doing hands-on things and couldn’t stop talking about it,” said 7th-grade teacher Kaho’iwai Kawaa, referring to her team of students traveling from Molokai to Maui for the 6th annual Hawaii STEM Conference held April 17-19 at the Wailea Marriott. “I believe this year’s conference positively impacted each and every one of our students,” Kawaa said. Her husband, Kaeo, the 8th-grade STEM teacher at Molokai Middle, agreed. “My students are showing greater interest in STEM as we continue each new year in growing and expanding what our program offers,” Mr. Kawaa said.
Led by team Captain Evelyn Haase, the Molokai Middle School contingent created a display that outlined the activities the students have engaged in during this school year from STEM Family Nights to robotics competition to experiments in science and math. “Everything we do is related to STEM and it’s a lot of fun,” Haase said. Her classmate, 8th-grader Cameryn Kahalewai said she enjoyed interacting with other students from around the state at the conference. “I got to become friends with people who enjoy STEM like me. They’re very passionate,” Kahalewai said, adding that the activities have helped her with skills in team building and leadership.
Mrs. Kawaa said she saw her students’ eyes light up after each of the conference keynote speakers delivered their addresses. “Hands down, Titan was our favorite,” she said, referring to Titan Gilroy, a St. Anthony High School graduate who has created a successful design and fabrication company with client contracts including NASA, SpaceX, and Tesla, as well as producing a T.V. show advocating for U.S. manufacturing. His pathway to success came after early challenges that led to incarceration. “He’s an example for all young men and women who struggle with making the right choices in and out of school,” Kawaa said.
The 2015 Hawaii STEM Conference, presented by Maui Economic Development Board, drew more than 500 attendees from around the state. Both students and teachers explored the benefits of STEM learning and showcased some of their best programs and projects.
