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STEM Education Outreach Programs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Project Description The purpose of the Central NM Science & Engineering Research Challenge (formerly NWNM Regional Science & Engineering Fair) is to interest young people in science and engineering and promote science and engineering fields as academic and career choices. Science fair clearly requires students to research and demonstrate scientific principles or answer propositions through inquiry-based learning as well as development of the scientific or engineering method. The purposes of the Central NM Region Science Olympiad are: 1.To bring science to life, to show how science works, to emphasize problem solving aspects of science and the understanding of science concepts. 2.To develop teamwork and cooperative learning strategies among students. 3.To make science education more exciting so more students will enroll in science courses and engage in other science activities like science reading, fairs, meetings and field trips. 4.To promote high levels of achievement and a commitment to excellence, to demonstrate that American students can perform at levels that surpass expectations of even practicing scientists and engineers. 5.To attract more students particularly females and minorities to professional and technical careers in science, technology, engineering, and science teaching. The purpose of Student Workshops is to work directly with students and teachers to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, and math as well as to support inquiry-based learning and research at all levels. The Student Workshops offer students hands-on learning activities focused on inquiry-based learning in science, technology, engineering, and math as well as activities that prepare students to complete a research project and compete in a research expo/science fair setting. The New Mexico Academic Decathlon is a team competition wherein students match their intellects with students from other schools. Students are tested in ten categories: Art, Economics, Essay, Music, Language & Literature, Mathematics, Science, Interview, Social Science, and Speech (both prepared and impromptu). Based on the model of the athletic decathlon, AD requires participants to prepare for ten academic events. AD does not permit students to ?specialize? but rather encourages academic versatility by requiring students to prepare for all ten events. AD stresses educational opportunity and academic excellence. The overall goals of the STEM Education Outreach Programs at UNM closely mimic those of the National Science Olympiad: To bring science to life, to show how science works, to emphasize problem solving aspects of science and the understanding of science concepts. To develop teamwork and cooperative learning strategies among students. To make science education more exciting so more students will enroll in science courses and engage in other science activities like science reading, fairs, meetings, workshops, and field trips. To promote high levels of achievement and a commitment to excellence, to demonstrate that American students can perform at levels that surpass expectations of even practicing scientists and engineers. To attract more students, particularly females and minorities to professional and technical careers in science, technology, engineering, and science teaching. Eligibility Central NM Science Olympiad and Central NM Science & Engineering Research Challenge is open to 6th-12th grade students from schools within the identified region. The NM Academic Decathlon is open to all high schools across NM. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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