Teachers to Tackle Mousetrap Cars
They're Going to CSUF Saturday for an Engineering Tutorial
Who:
More than 100 Southern California teachers will be at Cal State Fullerton Saturday for a day of engineering classes designed to help them prepare their students for competitions sponsored by the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement MESA program.
When:
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4
What:
The day’s agenda includes learning the basics of designing: mousetrap-powered cars; a trebuchet-type catapult; wind-powered devices; weight-bearing bridges using balsa wood, manila envelopes and craft sticks; and Web-page design.
Where:
Cal State Fullerton’s Engineering and Computer Science complex classrooms and laboratories.
Campus Map:
http://www.fullerton.edu/campusmap/CampusMap.htm
Classes will be taught by math, science, engineering and computer science faculty members and students from MESA chapters at Cal State Fullerton, UCI, Cal State Long Beach, UCLA, Cal State Los Angeles, UC Riverside and San Diego State.
More:
“The annual workshop often highlights that even teachers must develop the ability to laugh at themselves when they have trouble learning how to power a car with a mousetrap or build a paper-and-stick bridge that stays up,” said Vonna Hammerschmitt, CSUF MESA director and organizer of the day’s activities.
Background:
MESA is a statewide academic enrichment program targeted for educationally disadvantaged students in grades six through 12. The CSUF chapter’s area includes schools in Anaheim, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Placentia, Santa Ana and Whittier. More than 1,000 students from 19 schools were helped by the CSUF chapter last year. More than 100 graduated from high school last year,most of them enrolling at colleges and universities across the country, including CSUF.
Media Contacts:
Vonna Hammerschmitt, MESA director, 714-290-0310 or vhammerschmitt@fullerton.edu
Russ L. Hudson, Public Affairs, 657-278-4007 or rhudson@fullerton.edu
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