Pre-College Programs
ERC Pre-college programs are designed to engage and inspire pre-college students to consider further studies and careers in engineering (especially in Smart Lighting) and provide an understanding of basic engineering principles and skills. Programs are designed and offered to students of all grade levels, from kindergarten through community college; there is also a summer research experience for teachers.
Summer Enrichment Program for High School Students
These students had a blast exploring light and power during the summer of 2011.
Please visit http://summer.rpi.edu/update.do for information about the 2012 summer program.
Research Experience for Teachers (RET) 2012
Teachers from local schools spend 6 weeks during the summer learning about Smart Lighting technology and state-of-the-art engineering equipment. The goal of this program is for the teachers to develop age-appropriate curricular materials to take back to their schools/classrooms to support and ehance the STEM(Science, Technology, Math and Engineering) curricula at their school.
Application deadline is March 30, 2012.
Young Scholars Programs
The Smart Lighting ERC sponsors the Questar New Visions High School at Rensselaer. This program recruits talented high school students to attend classes at Rensselaer for a half of each day during their senior year.Exploring Engineering Day (Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012)
Rensselaer's School of Engineering hosts students in grades 3 - 6 and their parents. The young students and adults spend a half-day at Rensselaer to learn about engineering and science disciplines. The Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center (ERC) team offers several workshops and hands-on activities.
Further information can be found at Exploring Engineering Day
Design Your Future Day
This program is designed for extraordinary young women to learn about academic career opportunities in scientific and technological career paths. The Smart Lighting ERC introduces the young women to surprising ways we use light and how the colorful world of light can impact our health, happiness and safety while saving energy and protecting the environment. Other hands-on activities will engage the audience in the fun of STEM-related careers within Smart Lighting.Many of the activities used in "Design Your Future Day" and "Exploring Engineering Day" can be tailored for audiences in the primary grades through high school. Please contact Ms. Elizabeth Herkenham for more information.
Activities and Programs
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Activity: Description: K-5 6-8 9-12 Optical Signals Student will learn about the use of light in controlling televisions, computers, etc. and how to send music through airwaves. X X X Light Saber Students will create a discharge lamp that can be used to remotely control a touch lamp using the electrical noise it generates. X X X LED Simple Circuit Using 9V batteries, resistors, potentiometers, and LEDs, students will build simple LED circuits. X X X LED Design Students will gain an introduction to MobileStudio and the basics of LED design and mechanics. X X X Electromagnetic Spectrum Students will learn about visible and invisible, and will observe the color spectrum using spectrometers and diffractiong grafting slides. X X X Comparing Light Bulbs with Modern Instrumentation Students will gain a working understanding of light from various types of bulbs by comparing incandescent, compact florescent, and LED lights. X X X The Power of Light Geared toward younger students, this program introduces a culmination of lighting topics including the electromangnetic spectrum and comparisons of varous types of light bulbs. X
