The ASM Materials Education Foundation supports educators through a free 40-hour materials science workshop called the ASM Materials Camp®-Teachers. ASM Teachers Camp is an idea-generating workshop introducing teachers to methods that make math and core science principles more enticing and relevant to their middle and high school students. This week-long, hands-on lab experience shows educators how to use applied engineering techniques in their classroom. Materials topics are great motivators in any engineering, technology, or science course as students complete projects of personal worth to them.
Several ASM Materials Camp®-Teachers have already taken place this year with more scheduled throughout the summer. This inspiring program has a great impact on those who attend. Below are a few comments from teachers regarding their experience with this meaningful program.
“I cannot overstate how awesome this camp was on a multitude of levels. I could have gone for a week and a half just so we could get to and finish composites. There was so much material and so many ideas presented that it was almost overwhelming. The instructors did a great job explaining the material and how to present it to the students. Thank you for a great experience!!”
Justin Orlando, St. Louis Priory School, Missouri
“The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating. They went out of their way to help everyone understand the material, feel comfortable enough to implement it, and made adjustments to fit my schedule. I conduct professional workshops myself and am pretty demanding about my expectations for professional development. As a seasoned educator, I often find other programs to lack appropriate materials or presentation style. Not so with the ASM workshop – instead of my usual critical attitude, I found this workshop to be a refreshing example of how PD should be conducted – pertinent lessons, excellent instructors, and materials to implement. Thank you for funding this.”
Kathleen Dwyer, Illinois
“It has been an amazing week with wonderful people! We had a great time, learned a lot, and have many ways to incorporate the material into science units. There is so much practical real world material with practical applications that are immediately useful in the classroom. I wish all science workshops and training sessions could be this fun and as useful!”
Teresa Celusta, Middle College, Tennessee
“I can’t thank you all enough for hosting such an informative, fun, and worthwhile camp for teachers. I am recommending every science and math teacher I know to sign up for next year’s camp. I went home each day and excitedly told my daughter about what we did and they got excited about me showing them what I learned.”
Jenny Layton, Greene County High School, Mississippi
“Just a quick note to thank you for letting me into the year 2 camp without attending year 1. I’m 58 and have attended some of the most boring and useless camps in the world. This was not the case at the materials 2 camp. The instructors were sincerely nice, knowledgeable and bent over backwards to make sure we were comfortable with the labs, materials and knowledge to take them back to our schools. Teachers today are in direct competition with cell phones and have to have a WOW factor to keep their attention. With the tools your instructors and camp game me, I bet I said WOW a hundred times. Your camp has helped me, which in turn will help the students I work with. I am truly a lucky person to have attended this camp and wanted to take a little time and effort to thank you.”
Allen F. Ralls, Stewart County High School, Tennessee
