A wind turbine that can power a cell phone and waterproof dog boots created with a 3D printer were just two of the projects on display as about 100 students at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview presented their STEM projects at an annual showcase on Wednesday, May 13.
The Science and Engineering Learning Community program, which has existed at the school for roughly 14 years, gives students the opportunity to take coursework that integrates both science and engineering.
Michael Sinde, a former math teacher at Glenbrook South who started the program, said his interest in hands-on learning and problem-solving helped inspire the STEM learning community. After consulting with colleges that had separate existing science and engineering programs, he worked to form a new curriculum combining both elements.
“We tried to take the best of both and invented an entire new program of study that blended science with engineering in a four year sequence,” said Sinde.
As a part of the coursework, students collaborate in groups of three to four on an 8-week project of their choice for the STEM and Maker Faire. Through the process, they learn how to brainstorm and pitch ideas, manage budgets, communicate and solve problems as a team.
Those are important skills that can translate when students enter any field or career after high school, Sinde added.
The program’s focus on hands-on learning and collaboration was clear throughout the showcase with the unique student projects.
For example, sophomores Tia Rayyan, Ailyn Tleuleskycy and Angela Xue presented a project that involved using 3D printing and flexible printing materials to create waterproof dog boots that can better support a dog’s movement.
The idea came to the group after one of the member’s dogs struggled to walk during the winter with traditional boots.
“On the market, there’s a bunch of dog shoes that are basically balloons that you put on and then your dog walks all funky,” said Rayyan.
“So then we were just brainstorming to see if this could be a good alternative.”
The students explained the hands-on aspect of the program is what inspired them to get into engineering. In addition to the skills built through the project, they emphasized the importance of having more opportunities for women in STEM.
“There’s not a lot of women in STEM fields and I think every girl should have the opportunity to try new things,” said Tleuleskycy.
“This program gives so much hands-on experience with all aspects of engineering. We learn coding, we learn building and creative thinking which you could use to decide what field you want to get into.”
Other students, including seniors Eddie Kim and Elisha Mungalchetty, created a portable wind turbine generator for their project that generates enough electricity to power any cellular device or small battery that requires five volts. The pair were showing visitors how they could charge phones using the energy produced from the turbine.
According to Glenbrook South instructional supervisor for science Jeffrey Rylander, projects like this are what the program is designed for: to give students opportunities to connect classroom concepts to real-world scenarios.
Dawn Hall, instructional supervisor of career and tech education at Glenbrook South, noted that providing opportunities for students and having them work through challenges collaboratively is what the showcase is all about.
“Learning is doing,” said Hall.
More than a decade after the school first launched the showcase, Sinde said alumni who participated in the program and showcase continue to speak fondly about how the skills developed while working on the STEM projects have become useful in their careers.
“I want them to problem solve, I want them to be empathetic, I want them to help others, and we use engineering to do that,” said Sinde.
