SWUTC Research Project Description
Title of Project: Extreme Makeover: Bringing The SWUTC Transportation Outreach Modules into the 21st Century
Project Number: 476660-00020
Principal Investigator:
Debbie Jasek
(979) 845-5239
P.I. Affiliation: Texas A&M University
Project Monitor:
Dr. Judy Perkins
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Prairie View A&M University
CL Wilison Engineering Bldg. Rm. 110
Prairie View, TX 77446
(936) 261-1655
Project Status: Active
Date Started: 9/1/09
Estimation Completion Date: 8/31/10
Estimated Cost - Current Fiscal: $36,375
Estimated Cost - Total Planned: $36,375
Project Summary:
Project Abstract:
The transportation engineering profession, like every other profession that relies heavily on the engineering, technology and science fields, faces a challenging future. A recent study by the National Science Board reported a troubling decline in the number of U.S. citizens that are training to become scientists and engineers. The study showed that while more than half of the science and engineering degree holders are age 40 or older, the number of students entering college degree programs in these disciplines have declined. The current and future success of the transportation infrastructure and its diverse array of components depend on developing a cadre of individuals, both male and female, to design, plan, manage, operate, and maintain the vast infrastructure in place.
In the past SWUTC has funded numerous projects for transportation outreach for K-12. These projects include: the Transportation Road Show (2002), Careers in Transportation (2003), the Rural Transportation Institute (2004), and Transportation Engineering Education and Outreach Pilot Program Targeting Students in Grades K-12 (1999). Over the past 11 years these modules and presentations have been viewed by over 15,000 students. Some modules are still currently being used by outreach personnel. However, many of the modules are outdated and desperately in need of a makeover in order to make them relevant for today’s student audiences.
Technology and the technological IQ of the target audience have changed tremendously in the past 11 years. Today’s students surf the web, communicate through Facebook and Myspace, and they also communicate through Twitter and websites such as Squidoo. Many students read blogs on a daily basis, the way older generations read newspapers. Interfacing with students through media that they use on a constant basis will cast a wider net to reach a diverse population of students.
Project Objectives:
The main objective of this study is to update current outreach materials and utilize current online technology to reach the current and future generations of students and encourage an interest in transportation and transportation careers.
Task Descriptions:
Task 1. Review and Assess Library of Current Materials.
The project team will inventory and review all previously created activities, career presentations, and brochures. The team will also review all websites and on-line activities previously identified as resources that may be used to promote transportation careers. All of these assets will assessed for relevancy and need for updating.
Task 2. Update Current Materials.
Materials identified for update in task 1 will be updated. The items specifically targeted for update are brochures on transportation careers (the salary portion of the current brochures are ten years old) and career presentations. It is envisioned that these power point presentations will be updated to include current outlook for transportation careers and a new presentation geared towards elementary school students will be created.
Task 3. Website Makeover
The only current website for outreach is the Texas Summer Transportation Institute (TSTI) website. The project budget at current levels does limit the amount of work that can be done on a new website. However, the following items can be accomplished by the communications team under the current budget constrictions.
Task 4. Utilization of Social Networking Sites for Outreach
The project team proposes to utilize web-based social and information networks to reach a diverse population of students who are interested in engineering. The target social networks include: MySpace, Facebook, Squidoo, and Twitter. Pages on each network will be created to promote transportation careers and programs. This network interaction will feature pages on transportation, engineering, and the Summer Transportation Institute, as well as blogs about the latest transportation issues. These pages will be linked to the portal website so that people interested in these topics can find further information on transportation as a career. It is anticipated that this interaction will create new interest in transportation careers and spark a discussion of issues.
Task 5. Updating Links for Outreach Materials
Over the years a number of agencies, both at the Federal and State levels, have created activities, websites, and items to promote transportation and transportation careers. Many of these sources have been identified and utilized in previous SWUTC projects and outreach events. By creating a website on outreach, links to these online resources can be established. This linking will create a portal effect for the website. This will allow the website to become a type “one stop shop” for teacher and people interested in exploring transportation outreach resources. It is further hoped that this linking to outreach materials will also increase their use by teachers and students in both the classroom and non-classroom settings.
Task 6. Final Report
A final report and recommendations regarding the Extreme Makeover of SWUTC Outreach will be written and submitted.
Index Terms: