Positions Available in STEM Education:
ExpandED Options Instructors
An opportunity to teach New York City high school students computer science, physical computing and the basics of mechanical engineering in an exciting, new STEM education program
About the Program
Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) through its Center for K-12 STEM Education has received grant funding to launch a course for New York City high school students. Based in physical computing, mechanical systems and STEM areas related to ‘making’, this course will be conducted at NYU-Poly’s campus and (in modified form) at an after school program in Manhattan.
The Center is seeking qualified graduate and undergraduate instructors with experience in these fields. This is an exciting opportunity to work with high school students and share your passion for technology and engineering. Students attending the course on NYU-Poly’s campus will receive approximately 60 hours of instruction, designed in modules that both increase content knowledge of STEM fields and teach new technical skills. These students will subsequently be placed in summer programs, teaching what they have learned to middle school students. At the Manhattan location, due to time constraints, students will receive instruction in the first 30 hours of the course.
About the Curriculum
Adapted from NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) curricula on Physical Computing and Mechanical Systems, this course is taught through a series of sequential, scaffolded lessons that include lectures, but primarily emphasize hands-on, lab-based demonstrations, experiments and projects that offer important learning experiences. Students will learn specific, basic STEM principles, theories and technical skills related to: circuitry, electronics, mechanical systems, physical computing, robotics and other STEM disciplines. Many of these topics will be presented in the form of competitions, challenges or group installations and through the use of Pop-Up Labs (parts, equipment and tools, reusable hardware, and electronic components). The curriculum will be based on courses taught by NYU-Poly Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Ph.D. candidate Dustyn Roberts, who will oversee its adaptation and implementation.
A more detailed description of the course is attached, which also highlights the academic standards we intend to meet and plans for student assessments.
Logistics, Time Commitment and Compensation
We anticipate hiring a team of 2-4 instructors to accommodate both locations and scheduling. There will be 20-24 high school students in each class; during activities and projects (the bulk of class time), students will work in teams of two or more. There will be a minimum of 2 instructors per class, each supervising 5-6 teams and sharing responsibility for delivering lecture content and other curricular elements.
Instructors will be paid $15/hour, and be compensated for time teaching, training in the curriculum and preparing for class. Total hours available for work will ultimately be determined by the size of the instructional team, but expect to spend around 1.5 hours in preparation and training for every hour you instruct.
On NYU-Poly’s campus, the course will run on Saturdays for 5 hours. Classes will begin in mid-February 2013 and run more or less 12 successive Saturdays, with some flexibility based on NYU and public school schedules, and instructor availability. One or two additional classes/open labs will be scheduled for high school students to make up any missed classes or projects.
At the Manhattan location (in Harlem, public transit accessible) the class will run in two-hour blocks on Wednesdays or Thursdays (depending on instructor availability) from 4:30-6:30. There will be approximately 15 successive sessions, with some flexibility based on NYU and public school schedules, beginning the second or third week of January 2013.
Candidate Characteristics and Qaulifications:
• Experience teaching young people in a classroom, after school, camp or tutoring setting preferred.
• Must be an NYU-Poly or NYU undergraduate or graduate student.
• Engineering, computer science, ITP or related major preferred.
• Demonstrated technical skills in programming, mechanical systems and working with eletronic components, sensors, etc.
• Great communication skills.
• Must be well organized and able to prioitize.
• Enthusiastic about the program, committed to sharing your passion and expertise with aspiring young people, and see your participation as valuable to your personal, professional and academic development.
To Apply:
Send an email to Ben Esner, Susan Hermon and Dustyn Roberts:
besner@poly.edu, shermon@poly.edu, dustyn@nyu.edu
• Subject Line: ExpandED Application
• Attach resume/CV and up-to-date transcript (first year graduate students should also send undergraduate transcript). Note: unofficial OK
• In the body of the email write 1-2 paragraphs describing your interest and note any skill, ability or experience you possess that may be particularly relevant.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so if you are interested don’t delay!