This summer, teams of middle school teachers and counselors will learn how to combine STEM knowledge with exercise skills to innovate technology-based fitness games.
The summer experience is part of the a joint project between professors at Purdue University and the College of Charleston called TECHFIT (Teaching Engineering Concepts to Harness Future Innovators and Technologists). Once the teams learn how the program works, they will deliver an after-school program to their students. No prior knowledge in technology or computing is required.
The application for participants is open through April 2.
The teachers will use instructional materials developed by the TECHFIT team and customized by them at the summer workshop to deliver the 10-week afterschool program to their students. This experience has already inspired many past students to pursue STEM subjects, become innovators, and become more physically fit playing the exergames they developed. The culminating activity of the after-school program is a showcase at the host institution where each school demonstrates their exergame.
TECHFIT is open to teams of 2-5 teachers/counselors at schools in Indiana, South Carolina, and neighboring states. The six-day, residential professional development program will be offered at the College of Charleston June 20-25, 2016, and at Purdue University July 18-23, 2016. There is no cost to the teachers other than their travel to and from the host institution and some food costs. Each teacher will receive a $600 stipend for the summer, another $500 for the after-school program, and $100 for an in-service in the fall (as long as they fulfill all requirements of the program).
Each teacher team is provided with a technology toolkit valued at $4,500, which is used by the teachers in the summer program as well as by the students in the after-school program. Additionally, each teacher will receive a certificate of completion that qualifies towards accumulation of professional growth points to support the renewal of their teaching credentials in Indiana.
The local news station covered the December 2015 showcase, which highlights the outcomes of the program.
Complete information can be found on the TECHFIT website or by emailing techfit@purdue.edu.
Teachers selected for the program will be notified by May 2.