Teaching concepts in STEM to two generations through senior capstone projects

Senior capstone programs at US universities offer an excellent opportunity to teach engineering concepts to not only the engineering seniors in the capstone program, but also to the next generation of students currently in K-12. To achieve this, engineering students are given the challenge to create an exhibit in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) that in a fun way, conveys fundamental concepts to K-12 students. An example of this is a recently concluded senior capstone project in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University called Electrocycle. Using a standard bicycle and a small generator The prototype effectively conveys concepts of energy generation, conversion and storage, as well as basic principles in mechanical and electrical engineering. In one mode of operation, 8-12-year-old students at the Boys and Girls Club of Brazos Valley, in Bryan TX, are able to light up and vary the intensity of incandescent and LED bulbs using purely their cycling output. In another mode, they can charge a LiFEPO4 storage battery, which in turn is used to charge computers, phones, and rechargeable AA batteries. This device provides a clever way to incentivize the K-12 students at the Club to perform physical activity on the bike for about 15 minutes to receive 2 charged AA batteries that they can use to play video games. The seniors also created engaging videos using Lightboard that further reinforced the lessons imparted by the exerciser. One of the significant findings of this project was the community-oriented nature of the project and its long-term utility was a key factor to motivate the seniors to perform their best. Not only did they work longer hours than those on other projects, but they also made extra efforts to ensure safety and craftsmanship. The other key finding was that the seniors learned the concepts much more thoroughly than usual, understanding their responsibility to properly teach K-12 students.