Club gives a taste for engineering

Christine Carrillo

Staying after school for a little extended education Monday, a group

of sixth- and seventh-grade students at TeWinkle Middle School got to

tackle concepts and curriculum beyond their years.

Delving into the world of civil, electrical and mechanical

engineering, these students of the school’s Future Scientists and

Engineers of America Club have learned the true meaning of trial and

error -- an essential to engineering life.

The club “gives them a chance to really practice science and

manipulate it,” said Lisa Clifton, who has acted as the club’s

advisor for the past five years. “It’s very much hands-on learning.”

The students, despite the constant competition among them, work

together to overcome the numerous obstacles of each project they take

on. Whether they work on an electrical circuit or a catapult, the

students have found that learning from their mistakes can be the most

beneficial tool.

“Failures are much more interesting, and that’s a hard concept for

kids because we’re training them to get the right answer,” said Chris

Ludlow, a parent mentor for the club and a retired engineer. “In

engineering, you often get the wrong answer because the answer isn’t

always obvious. It’s trial and error, and it’s more about the

process.”

Although being a part of the club, which meets every Monday

afternoon, requires students to put in more classroom time after

school, they don’t view it as a sacrifice. They say they enjoy

tackling subjects usually introduced at college.

“We try to offer a lot of after-school programs and clubs,” said

Jeff Gall, principal at TeWinkle. “I think this one’s great because

it really requires them to use a higher level of thinking skills. It

offers an opportunity, an experience, I guess, for kids who want a

little bit more.”

From getting to hear about the real world of engineering from

working engineers to working independently with their hands building

cars and catapults, these students, primarily boys, get to test their

creativity and their interest with the guidance of professionals.

The students first vote on what to build. Then, they go over their

project goals, and finally commence construction. Through this four-

to six-week process, the students get a feel for the engineering

world without being bombarded with all the physics, math and science

behind it.

“I like this stuff and I like working with wood,” said 11-year-old

Stephanie Burciaga, a sixth-grader and the only girl in the club. “I

like that it’s hands-on and you can experiment with things ... take

them home and show your mom.”