Company joins education initiative

A PTC - Parametric Technology (UK) product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jan 11, 2008

The PTC Global Education Program provides free licenses of Pro/Engineer Schools Edition design software, curriculum and projects to middle and secondary schools.

Battelle has incorporated the PTC Global Education programme into its enterprise-wide education initiatives dedicated to advancing STEM education.

Battelle is a global science and technology enterprise that explores emerging areas of science, develops and commercialises technology and manages laboratories for customers.

The PTC Global Education Program provides free licenses of Pro/Engineer Schools Edition design software, curriculum and projects to middle and secondary schools upon completion of teacher training and certification.

The training is normally delivered by other trained teachers already engaged in the program.

Battelle recognised that it could provide significant value by training some of its own engineering staff to conduct educational workshops for teachers.

In the Battelle model, the teachers benefit by receiving training from industry professionals who are experienced users of Pro/Engineer.

Nominal training fees are underwritten by the school district and training time and resources are donated by Battelle.

In its first workshop, Battelle engineers, Chris Brandon and Steve Madland, provided training to teachers representing seven schools in Franklin County, Ohio school districts.

An extension to the training programme is the establishment of after school STEM clubs for students and teachers.

Battelle found that upon initial completion of training, many teachers faced the challenge of incorporating the STEM focused training into their existing curriculum.

Battelle seized the opportunity to create the "Battelle Engineering Experience" (B2e), with the development of STEM clubs offering ongoing teacher training, student mentorship, curriculum development and exposure to industry tools.

Over fifty students participated in the first B2e STEM club session.

Each weekly two-hour STEM Club session now consistently attracts approximately thirty students.

Three schools currently offer the after school experience.

The goal is to establish STEM clubs in all Columbus, Ohio school districts.

Battelle is currently developing an industry-driven open source curriculum program as the next step in its multipronged approach to increasing STEM skills.

The program will offer teachers STEM-focused curriculum driven by real industry problems and design challenges for classroom use.

Battelle plans to create and support infrastructure using PTC Windchill as the collaboration backbone of an information portal.

Students and teachers will strengthen their STEM skills by applying them to solve the same problems faced by industry professionals.

The projects will then be funneled back into the program for use by other participants.

Battelle will use the collaboration portal to follow up with teachers to keep them actively engaged in the program.

"Battelle prioritises our education initiatives on the same level of critical importance as our research and development mission", says Chris Brandon, B2e Team Battelle Project Director.

"The shortage of qualified technology workers will impact our nation's ability to successfully compete in a global economy".

"Battelle is committed to doing its part to reverse that trend by creating and supporting programs that can be replicated and sustained throughout our schools and communities".