Summer 2024 (Rocketry) and Summer 2025 (Guitar Project)
GRRATE (Guitars, Robotics, Rocketry, Advanced Technical Education) Summer Institutes Grant funded by the National Science Foundation is a new opportunity for rising 9th - 12th grade students. In the summer of 2023, Robotics was the focus of 2-week programs at each of the five Santa Fe College locations. Dates will be announced for each location in the spring of 2024 for Rocketry. This will be a no-cost program for campers and we are excited about getting students thinking about careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) technical fields after graduation.
Overview
Guitars, Rocketry, Robotics Advanced Technological Education (GRRATE) was a project funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2023). Through innovative project-based learning, GRRATE helped students gain the competencies and self-efficacy needed to succeed in STEM fields. This project introduced students who are often underrepresented in STEM to the possibility of high-paying, rewarding careers in STEM. Implemented in Fall 2019, GRRATE offered ISC1006 Wide World of Science, a project-based course with three experiential learning project options: guitar building, robotics and rocketry. Students gained knowledge in the areas of Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics while building a guitar, robot or rocket. The semester ended with a field trip to the Kennedy Space Center. This course will continue to be offered at the college with the aim of emphasizing collaboration with industry partners. This course will expose students to careers available in STEM fields and will connect students with industry so they obtain firsthand knowledge of requirements for developing a successful career.
Register
Students may register to take a GRRATE course by searching for ISC1006 Wide World of Science in course listings. Seats are first come, first served as long as space is available.
GRRATE NEWS
STEM for All Video Showcase
May 11-18, 2021, GRRATE is participating in the STEM for All Video Showcase. Visit https://stemforall2021.videohall.com/ during the week of May 11, to see a video about our program showcased with videos from dozens of other NSF ATE projects!
Course Launch
In Fall 2019, the Santa Fe College GRRATE project launched four participatory, project-based classes that engage students in learning science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM): Rocketry at the Watson Center, Guitar Building at the Davis and Blount Centers, and Robotics at the Andrews Center. These are elective classes that aim to introduce students to entry-level STEM skills such as design, manufacturing, problem-solving, and coding that are sought after skills in the jobs of today and tomorrow.
Upward Bound Partnership
In Summer 2019, GRRATE piloted our guitar, robotics and rocketry curriculum through a two week partnership with Upward Bound's youth summer camp. Teens participating in Upward Bound built guitars, battled robots, launched rockets and participated in a capstone trip to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Learn more about Upward Bound.
Professional Development
In the Spring of 2019, GRRATE held three professional development trainings; Rocketry, Robotics, and STEM Guitar! These workshops ranged from 12 to 40 hour intensives that trained educators in GRRATE's science, tech, research, engineering, arts, and math curriculum. Faculty from Santa Fe College, Upward Bound, and educators visiting from outside communities participated in the trainings.
National Science Foundation
The Guitars, Rocketry, Robotics Advanced Technological Education (GRRATE) project was funded by the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education grant award #1800955.