Community Engagement

Most Recent Community Engagement

STEM Community Engagement by the STEM Education Laboratory

Supports the “Community Engagement and Economic Development” platform in the “Strategic Plan for the Race to Excellence 2015-2025” of Florida Atlantic University

Number of FAU Student Volunteers

Undergraduate Preservice Teacher Education Majors = 49
Graduate Preservice Teacher Education Majors = 3

Formal Education Community Engagement Sites

Schools in Broward County: Flamingo Elementary, Franklin Academy, Challenger Elementary, Welleby Elementary, Cooper City Elementary, Nova Blanch Forman Elementary, North Broward preparatory School, Coconut Creek Elementary, Country Hills Elementary, Cross Creek Elementary, Oakland Park Elementary, St. Patrick’s School, Coconut Palm Elementary, Parkway Christian School, Hollywood Hils elementary, Renaissance Charter School, Village Elementary, Norcrest Elementary, Baldwin Academy, Pines lakes Elementary, Meadowbrook Elementary, Riverside Elementary, Fox Trail Elementary, Bennett Elementary, Coral Park Elementary, Apple tree Montessori School, Eagle Point Elementary, Boulevard Heights Elementary

Schools in Palm Beach County: Hidden Oaks K-8 School, A. D. Henderson University School, Morikami Park Elementary

Schools in Dade County: St. Patrick’s Elementary, All Angels Academy

Nonformal Education Community Engagement Sites

Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS)

Sample STEM Community Engagement Topics Chosen by Volunteers

MODS exhibit related topics – Airplane Wing Lift (e.g., Bernoulli’s Principle), Weather, Clouds, Water Cycle, Coral and Coral Bleaching, Sharks, Mangroves, the Everglades)

Other Non-MODS related topics – Simple Pendulums, Electrical Circuit, Water Pollution, Floating and Sinking, Magnetism, Light

Benefits to Student Volunteers

Experience in designing and developing engaging STEM lessons mentored by university faculty and MODS staff
Opportunity to deliver engaging STEM lessons to K-12 school students and/or MODS visitors
FAU Academic Service Learning Credit (since Fall 2017)
FAU designated Noble Hour Credit (prior to Fall 2017)
Development of Teacher Leadership among Preservice Teachers in the following areas (Kumar and Moffitt, 2000)
- Self-Confidence Development
  "This experience allows me to be more confident when teaching."
  "Presentation and demonstration allowed me to build confidence in explaining [the lesson]."
- Depth of Understanding of the [STEM] Concept
  "Everything I learned [about my topic] will stick with me forever."
  "I have learned a lot about the different components of [the topic]."
- Audience STEM Learning
  "Because of the level of confidence, I had in my project, this caused audience to gain more knowledge about..."
- Sense of Self-Responsibility
  "It is important to me that students understand the effects humans have on the Everglades."

REFERENCE: Kumar, D. D. & Moffit, S. (2020). STEM teacher leadership development through community engagement. Science Education and Civic Engagement: An International Journal, 12(1), 5-11.