SAE Update - August 2022 - 27

SAE FOuNDATION
students soon realize, not everyone has to be an
aeronautical engineer, or an engineer at all, to fully
embrace a love of STEM.
As they work in teams throughout the academic
quarter, students also learn firsthand about the
engineering process and, most importantly, how to
work together. The hands-on, team-based structure
of the AWIM STEM challenge encourages
collaboration between students and with volunteers.
Initially students thought the engineers would just tell
them the answers. Instead, they were encouraged to
ask questions when they needed help.
Based on the success of AWIM for students in
Patterson's Student Enrichment Program, during the
2022-2023 school year students in first, third, and
fifth grade will now also participate in AWIM STEM
challenges across complete grade levels. This phase 1
expansion coincides with Patterson being named a
candidate for the prestigious International
Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme, a
student-centered approach that builds conceptual
understanding through an inquiry-based,
transdisciplinary curriculum framework.
" Expanding AWIM to three grade levels is taking it to
another level. Gifted students will now be in the same
classroom. Regardless of labels or skill sets, students
will learn how to collaborate in groups and have
empathy for different learning styles. High achievers
will have a chance to work with special education
students. By third grade, our young learners will
already be pretty well versed in inquiry, and it won't be
something that's scary to them, " said Wood.
By encouraging social interactions with industry
volunteers and classmates of all learning styles, the
AWIM experience is helping to boost student
confidence and improve 21st century workforce skills
UPDATE
like communication, negotiation,
and collaboration. They're also
learning the value of asking
questions throughout the entire
process so they can keep things
moving forward and stay focused
on inquiry and critical thinking-
crucial skills that will translate to
future education, careers, and life.
" Patterson will eventually be a
full inquiry model school. We will
create opportunities for students
to think critically, persevere,
exceed expectations, collaborate
effectively, and learn valuable
executive functions through the
use of AWIM's Engineering
Design Experience™, " added
Lucas Blackburn, Principal at
Patterson Elementary.
Additional phases planned for
future years will deliver the AWIM
program to all PreK - 6 teachers
and students in the school. The
SAE Foundation is actively
raising funds to support this
expansion to provide AWIM
curriculum, materials, training for
educators and volunteers, and
support at no cost to students,
families, or school. Contact joy.
lancaster@sae.org to learn how
you can get involved to bring the
AWIM learning experience to
more students as a corporate
partner, donor, or volunteer. n
August 2022
27
https://www.ibo.org/programmes/primary-years-programme/ https://www.ibo.org/programmes/primary-years-programme/ https://www.ibo.org/programmes/primary-years-programme/
SAE Update - August 2022

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