SolidWorks supports Math2Go program to teach students STEM principles and pique engineering interest
Students in grades 3-12 gain hands-on 3D CAD experience designing scale-model remote-controlled cars
CONCORD, Mass., April 10, 2007 - SolidWorks Corporation is working with math and science education resource Ten80 Education to launch a nationwide contest in which high school students optimize, modify through design, and race a series of 10 th scale model remote-control cars. The FastTrack National Challenge League is based on the Math2Go Accelerated program in which students learn and apply the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as they model, design, and test their cars to drive farther and faster. SolidWorks is providing every team with free licenses of SolidWorks® 3D CAD software along with the online resources to share car models, ask questions, and even show off their designs. Other key Math2Go sponsors include Texas Instruments, the National Science Center (NSC), Sargent-Welch, and The AeroDYN Wind Tunnel.
Ten80 Education is a 10-year-old association based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. that seeks to improve STEM education in the classroom. It has worked with engineers, teachers, students, and industry professionals to develop curricula that ignite student interest in STEM topics and potentially encourage them to pursue careers in engineering. More than 150,000 students have participated in Ten80's Math2Go programs in the past five years. Math2Go Fast Track programs feature middle school teams designing 16 th scale cars for intra-school competitions. Next fall is the launch for FastTrack Challenge Leagues, enabling students from different high schools across the country to compete in the national contest.
"Getting industry involved in education is crucial," said Ten80 Education Founder Beverly Simmons. "Not only will professional engineers, scientists, and mathematicians share knowledge with students, they might possibly inspire students to emulate them. It's an investment in the future. SolidWorks' sponsorship of Math2Go Accelerated and the FastTrack Challenge League will have a significant impact on the program's success."
Donald McKeithan, a senior at Greenbriar High School outside of Atlanta , has used SolidWorks along with his teammates to design what they expect to be a winning entry in the national competition. "I had never used any CAD software before," he said. "SolidWorks has a very good interface. It gives me a clear view of what I need to do, and how I need to get it done." Not certain of his career path to date, he said he may parlay the skills he's honed from SolidWorks into a job in the video gaming industry.
Ten80 Education and SolidWorks officially launched the national Fast Track Challenge League at the National Science Teacher Association conference in St. Louis on March 29th.
"Ten80 is a grassroots initiative started by a teacher with a vision of how to engage students more deeply in math and science so they see how these topics are at play in the world around them," said SolidWorks Director of Education Marie Planchard. "That vision has become a blueprint for fueling student interest in STEM. We're happy to contribute to that effort."
For more information about Ten80 and Math2Go, please visit the Web site at www.ten80education.com.
About Ten80 Education
Ten80 is an education resource, founded in 1996 by teams of engineers, educators and scientists who collaborate to help students gain a broader perspective and more fundamental understanding of math and science in the world around them. Ten80 provides content-based professional development, strategies and model inquiry-based lessons to teachers and students in grades 3-12 science, technology, education and math (STEM) courses. Its research-based MindBugs program helps teachers address fundamental student-held misconceptions and its Math2Go and FastTrack Challenges programs engage students in applied STEM activities. For more information, visit www.ten80education.com.
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