Using Service Learning to Using Service Learning to Engage American Indian Engage American Indian Students in EngineeringStudents in Engineering

Sheree WatsonSheree WatsonDesigning Our Community (DOC) Designing Our Community (DOC)

Designing Our Community Designing Our Community (DOC) Program Goals(DOC) Program Goals

• Goal 1: RECRUITMENTGoal 1: RECRUITMENT– Increase the motivation and pre-entry academic preparation of

Native American students.

• Goal 2:Goal 2: RETENTIONRETENTION– Help shape the engineering, engineering technology, and

computer science workforce by increasing the number of Native American students graduating from the College of Engineering.

• Goal 3: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTGoal 3: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT– Improve access to quality engineering and technology to rural

and underserved populations by returning highly educated professionals to these communities.

DOC Seminar BackgroundDOC Seminar Background• 1-credit seminar1-credit seminar• Building community (same place, same Building community (same place, same

time once a week)time once a week)• Encouraging mentoringEncouraging mentoring• Highlighting support programsHighlighting support programs• Engaging in professional developmentEngaging in professional development

Problem: redundancy for upper classmenProblem: redundancy for upper classmen

Service Learning ProjectsService Learning Projects• Spring `06 - Develop an engineering related Spring `06 - Develop an engineering related

activity for 8activity for 8thth grade math students grade math students• Spring `07 - Participate as a project team in one Spring `07 - Participate as a project team in one

of four community projectsof four community projects• Spring ‘08 – Research and write unfunded, Spring ‘08 – Research and write unfunded,

undone Indian Health Service (IHS) Projects for undone Indian Health Service (IHS) Projects for senior design capstone courses at MSUsenior design capstone courses at MSU

• Spring ‘09 – Feasibility study for new reservation Spring ‘09 – Feasibility study for new reservation high school on alternative energy investmenthigh school on alternative energy investment

ProjectsProjects

“I’ve not really thought about engineering from the teaching perspective and without teachers there would be no engineers.”

“Service-learning in this case has been something that has made me get out of my comfort zone and step into somewhat of a leadership position in my group. Leadership is not something that really comes naturally for me so this was good.”

“Our project taught me how different principles of engineering relate to everyday life.

ProjectsProjects“This is the first project like this I have done. It was like a job for an engineer. They had a problem and we had to find a way to solve it.”

“We got to experience contribution to society first-hand.”

“Engineering isn’t all just number crunching; there is a social aspect as well as a motivation factor.”

“I learned how to compromise and give effective criticism as well as how to take it.”