Finding a Classroom Volunteer
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Finding a Classroom Volunteer
1
Teacher Looking for Volunteer Support
Page
My Requirements as a Teacher. ..........1
Classroom Instruction
Monitoring Volunteers
Flexibility of Visits
Volunteer Updates
Looking for Volunteer Support.............2
Contacting Volunteers – Ways to Reach Out
Types of Companies to Contact
Who to Ask For
SAE International Support
Volunteer Requirements. .......................4
Time Commitment – Suggested Visits
During a Volunteer Visit
Asking Permission from Management
Volunteer Recruitment Tools................6
Letter Appendix A.......................................7
AWIM Flyer Appendix B. ..............................8
The Script (Talking Points) Appendix C............10
2
My Requirements as a Teacher
Classroom Instruction Volunteer Updates
AWIM is a teacher-led activity with volunteer support. Meet or talk Determine the best means of communication between you and
with the volunteer to go over the curriculum and expectations. the volunteer. If you rely on phone calls, be sure to exchange
The teacher maintains all regular responsibilities such as school and/or home numbers and best times to call. If you
classroom management, student discipline, photocopying, plan to communicate by email, let each other know how often
and assessing student understanding. The volunteer is in the you check your mail. Communicating with your volunteer about
classroom to share his or her expertise and work experience. lessons prior to and after classroom visits will benefit both of you.
If e-mail communication is possible, it is helpful to share lesson
plans, handouts, articles, or other documents that will be used
Monitoring Volunteers during class. Providing your volunteer with student feedback
All AWIM volunteers must follow regulations for school visitors set
can be helpful and rewarding. If students are confused about
by the individual school or district. Please be sure to inform your
a concept covered during class, let the volunteer know. The
classroom volunteer about your school’s procedures, which may
more your volunteer knows about where your students stand
include, but are not limited to: background checks, fingerprinting,
in their understanding of the material, the better able he or she
signing in & out, and participation in safety drills.
will be to tailor each visit to your students’ needs. Keep in mind
that re-entering the classroom can be intimidating for some
Flexibility of Visits volunteers. Any positive feedback that you share can help ease
The number of times the volunteer visits your class varies based this apprehension.
on the school schedule, the volunteer’s schedule, and how in-
depth you wish the lessons to be. Schedule visits in advance.
Check with the volunteer a day or two ahead of each planned
visit to confirm arrangements. Be flexible. Volunteers are
taking time away from their job or adjusting their
hours to assist in the program. Your volunteer’s
schedule may change and a visit may be canceled
or postponed. Be sure to have a backup plan
incase a volunteer needs to reschedule.
1
Looking for Volunteer Support
Contacting Volunteers – Ways to Reach Out The engineering profession has many specialized fields including:
AWIM provides the curriculum and materials to teach the
Aeronautical Health & Sanitary
concepts of physical science to elementary, middle and high
Agricultural Geological
school students. It is important to remember these concepts
Automotive Marine
form the basic principles of science that we all learned when we
Biomedical Mechanical
were in school. The potential pool of volunteers is much larger
Ceramic Metallurgical & Materials
that you might first realize.
Chemical Mining
Civil Nuclear
Potential volunteers may include members of your PTA, parents
Computer Science Oceanic
or grandparents, even current school volunteers. Consider
Electrical Engineering Petroleum Systems
calling a local chapter of a professional organization as a lead for
Physics Textile
volunteers. Potential volunteers may include university students
Environmental Transportation
studying education, mathematics, science or engineering.
Types of Companies to Contact
The AWIM curriculum is designed to provide students with an
Engineering Design Experience by designing a vehicle. So it is
natural to think of engineers as potential volunteers.
2
When looking for a volunteer, don’t limit yourself to engineers.
Remember the AWIM concepts are the basis for all technology
Who to Ask For
When calling a local company consider asking for a representative
fields. Industrial volunteers may include scientists and other
in Human Resources, Communication or Community Relations
professionals that use technology. Keep in mind the goals of
as an initial “point of entry.” Many companies like to get involved
having a volunteer in the classroom: building awareness of
in their community and managers in these functional areas either
engineering and other technical professions, and to support the
work on those aspects or can connect you to the correct person.
teacher in the classroom.
A World in Motion is an excellent bridge to link education and
industry. Schools show that they are teaching their students
Consider these locations when looking for a volunteer:
relevant technologies, while companies show that they are
Laboratories Airports involved in supporting their local community.
Industrial Plants The Department of Transportation
Construction Sites City Municipal Offices
Hospitals Outdoors SAE International Support
Service Garages Resources at SAE International may be able to help you in your
search for Industry Volunteers. Visit www.awim.org to find some
other helpful hints.
3
Volunteer Requirements
Time Commitment – Suggested Visits Asking Permission from Management
A World in Motion offers volunteers flexibility in scheduling
classroom visitations. Visitations are typically one hour (on site
(Volunteers)
classroom time). Over the course of the program volunteers can
Many volunteers need to request permission from their supervisor
commit anywhere from one to six hours to dedicated classroom
to leave work to volunteer for AWIM in the classroom. Provide
visitation. Many volunteers choose to commit more time and
your volunteer with information on the AWIM program. Explain
resources. Because of the unique concept of volunteers leaving
that an important element of the program is having a volunteer
work to visit the classroom there is no visitation schedule outlined
who can relate the AWIM concepts to the business world.
in this guide. Time commitment and schedules need to be topics
Volunteers provide an important aspect to the class by explaining
of discussion between the Industry Volunteer and teacher.
how science, technology, engineering & math are used every day
in industry.
During a Volunteer Visit
During a classroom visit the follow roles and responsibilities
may apply:
Teacher
• Responsible for Classroom Management and must remain
present in classroom during all volunteer visits
• Communicate openly with volunteer(s)
• Implement the AWIM program with your Industry
Volunteer partner(s):
• Work with student teams in advance of each classroom
visit to ensure each team is prepared
• Ensure implementation of all volunteer and
non-volunteer sessions
• Evaluate student learning
• Recognize student participation
Volunteer
• Be familiar with school safety/security protocol:
• Parking
• Entry/exit & check-in procedures
• Evacuation/take shelter procedures and
mustering areas
• Work with your teacher partner to:
• Review program content
• Identify available presentation resources
• Maintain cadence established by the schedule
• Be prepared for each visit
• Attend all scheduled sessions, notifying teacher/volunteer
team in advance of absence
• Serve as a role model and provide relevant ‘real world’
examples to students
• Coach students by asking questions to guide them
toward solutions
• Make learning fun for the students!
4
It is also helpful to have a tentative schedule for the AWIM A first time volunteer may also need to schedule time to prepare
volunteer sessions that the volunteer can provide to his or her for the classroom session by reading the lesson plan or science
supervisor. In most cases the volunteer will spend 1- hour in the notes. This work can be done outside of the work day.
classroom each week for up to six weeks. Be sure to consider
the time required traveling to the school and any meetings The AWIM program is an excellent opportunity to build
scheduled with the teacher prior to the program beginning. community relations. The teacher and volunteer may consider
contacting a local newspaper to participate in the final
presentations at the conclusion of the AWIM program.
5
Volunteer Recruitment Tools
Program Introduction Letter
Appendix A provides a sample letter that can be used to solicit
potential Industry Volunteers.
AWIM Brochure
Appendix B provides a two-page brochure that can be used to share a
basic program overview with potential Industry Volunteers.
The Script (Talking Points)
Appendix C provides a talking script to be used to guide a one-on-one
conversation with a potential volunteer.
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Appendix A
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This is ed to d fi c t itious t r i n g Design a s t h e
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7
Appendix B
Fun, Fantastic & FREE!
Helping teachers bring math and science to life –
right in the classroom using Standards-based,
STEM curriculum
Expand your curriculum and bring math and science to life
for your students through this Standards-based, highly interactive,
fun program – and at no cost to you. Through volunteer engineers
and scientists, A World In Motion® (AWIM) will open a window
of possibilities for your students as they discover the exciting
application of science principles right in the classroom.
The AWIM curriculum joins together teachers, students and,
volunteer engineers and scientists to engage students in grades
4-10. AWIM blends math and science while incorporating the laws
of physics, motion, flight and electronics into age-appropriate
Challenges. Each Challenge is designed to reinforce classroom
You Can Influence STEM curriculum.
Future Generations When you participate in the AWIM program, you are helping to
prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow through personal
A World In Motion is a wonderful discovery. As the teacher who provides information about exciting,
opportunity for engineers, scientists
science-related careers - you are playing an important role in the
and corporations alike to help
students discover the exciting world development of future engineers and scientists.
of science, and how it applies to real
life. You can play an important role Find out how AWIM can enhance your curriculum and sow the
in encouraging students to consider seeds of endless possibilities for a future generation. Who knows…
science-related and technical careers one of your students could become the next great innovator!
and help develop future generations.
Your support of AWIM programs could
open a window of opportunity for
children throughout your community.
To learn more about becoming a
volunteer, sponsoring a school,
or making a donation, visit
www.awim. org, email awim@sae.org,
or call 1-800-457-2946.
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8W orld In
A Mo
tion
Elementary
Challenges:
Activities Middle
Skimmer School Activities
High School
Students construct paper sailboats
and test the effect of different sail
shapes, sizes, and construction Motorized Toy Car
methods to meet specific Students develop new designs
performance criteria. Friction, for electric gear driven toys. The Electricity & Electronics
forces, the effect of surface students are involved in writing The Electricity & Electronics
area and design are some of the proposals, drawing sketches, and – High School activities guide
physical phenomena students working with models to develop a student teams through in-depth
encounter in this challenge. plan to meet a specific set of design experiments involving transistors
requirements. Force and friction, & semiconductors, analog
JetToy simple machines, levers and gears, integrated circuits, and digital
torque and design are the core integrated circuits.
Students make balloon-powered scientific concepts covered in
toy cars that meet specific this challenge.
performance criteria; travels far,
carries weight, or goes fast.
Jet propulsion, friction, air Glider
resistance and design are the Students explore the relationship
core scientific concepts students between force and motion and the
explore in this challenge. effects of weight and lift on a glider.
Students learn the relationships
Electricity & Electronics between data analysis and variable
N manipulations, and the importance of
The Electricity & Electronics SIO
E VI understanding consumer demands.
- Elementary challenge provides
R R that focus The glider activity culminates in
N DE
teachers with activities a book-signing event where each
on principles U electronics by
of design team presents its prototype
providing LY
Thands-on experiments
N and the class presents its manuscripts
R RE static electricity, batteries
involving to Mobility Press “representatives”
CU capacitors.
and and members of the local community.
Electricity & Electronics
ON
SI
The Electricity & Electronics VI – Middle
Eteachers
School activities provide R R with
activities that guide
N DEstudent teams
YU
through experiments involving series
& parallel N TL
circuits, magnetism and an
R E
introduction
UR to electronics.
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P80322
9Appendix C
The Script (Talking Points) student design a product or devise a solution to a problem.
Below are some talking points that may help you start your Teams of three students examine what must be accomplished
conversation with the company representative or potential and who the product is for; gather and synthesize information;
volunteer. Once you contact the correct person; introduce design, develop, and test a prototype design; and prepare a
yourself, explain why you are calling, what you are looking for, presentation of their ides.
and how they can get involved.
Through the Engineering Design Experience students identify
problems, generate and evaluate ideas, plan and implement
Introduce yourself. solutions, evaluate solutions, and communicate results – just as
professionals do in industry.
Why:
I am introducing my students to a dynamic curriculum focused on I am calling because your company is rich in technology and I am
the engineering design process. The program is designed to help hoping you might consider a partnership with me by volunteering
students see how math and science connect to the real world. or encouraging your employees to volunteer in my classroom.
An important aspect of this program is fostering positive attitudes How:
toward science, technology, engineering & math. There is no The curriculum actually walks the students through the
better way to do this than by exposing the students to people engineering design experience with a hands-on project that is
who have a passion and make a living working with technology. completed by a team of students.
What: Volunteers in the classroom will support classroom activities and
share their professional experiences with the students.
What is AWIM?
Each class session lasts about 1-hour. Volunteers can participate
AWIM is a unique program that steps students through the
in as little as one session or participate in all classroom sessions,
Engineering Design Experience, used by engineers in design
depending on their availability.
teams. This method provides a problem-solving context in which
Explain if volunteer training is available (either through SAE or
one-on-one with you).
Explain if the classroom schedule is flexible and
if you are able to accommodate the
volunteer’s availability
Closing:
Are you available to meet to discuss
the program in more detail?
Consider bringing an example of
one of the completed challenge
vehicles. If time permits, build one
during the meeting. If possible,
bring extra materials that can be
given to the volunteers. In addition,
bring a copy of the challenge
description, a description of the
roles & responsibilities and a
tentative timeline.
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