Who Says Girls Can't Build?

This month in WISE’s Imagine Your STEM Future Program, the freshman students at Desert View High School have been utilizing their engineering skills to complete two major projects. Along with the help of UA mentors and Raytheon volunteers, the students constructed straw roller coasters and robotic arms.

For the straw roller coaster project, students were tasked with creating a functional roller coaster out of straws, cardboard and hot glue. This activity required the girls to think like an engineer, as well as implement their knowledge of physics. They were also challenged to meet certain parameters—such as the amount of straws used and including both 90° and 180° turns, just as an engineer would. In the beginning the girls had a lack of confidence in being able to build a roller coaster. However, after a little guidance from the mentors, they became invested in the project and were able to construct unique and functional roller coasters in just eight days!

For the robotic arm activity, students were provided an un-narrated video of a robotic arm and they were challenged with recreating the arm based off of the video, with no other instructions, except that the final judging will be picking up and moving an object across the room. This project allowed the students to garner their self-efficacy and leadership skills. As well as continue to grow their engineering skills of designing, building and testing.

As high school students, the girls often don’t have a say in what they’ll be learning or how, the goal of these projects is to have the students think more independently and allow them to be more creative in their learning process. While helping them build their STEM identity and recognize their talents.