Rotary District 5510

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Come to Life in the Classroom
By Norm Noble

When it comes to mathematics, most U.S. kids aren't making the grade. A recent study conducted by the American Institutes for Research on students in Grades 4 and 8 found that children in the United States consistently score on math below most of their peers around the world. As students progress to the high school level, the worrying trend continues, with the U.S placing ninth out of the 12 countries included in the study. 

A World In Motion® (AWIM) is a teacher-administered, industry volunteer-assisted program that brings science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to life in the classroom for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. It seeks to make science exciting. Benchmarked to the national standards, AWIM incorporates the laws of physics, motion, flight, and electronics into age-appropriate hands on activities that reinforce classroom STEM curriculum.  

The program started twenty years ago by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and is funded by the SAE Foundation. It is all about getting students excited about math and science. AWIM in Arizona began five years ago when a group of retired General Motors engineers who are members of the GM Retirees Club of Arizona took up the challenge. The program has impacted over four million student since its inception, and has programs in more than a dozen countries globally.  

Through the support of corporations, foundations, volunteers, SAE members and the SAE Foundation, AWIM opens a window of possibilities for students as they discover the stimulating application of science principles and learn about rewarding engineering, science, and technical careers. The students learn to work as a team with their classmates and apply creative problem solving during the activities.  

The Sun Lakes Rotary has formed a 'partnership' with AWIM in Arizona, with an AWIM committee under Rotarian Don Robins, the Director of Educational Services. Monies are budgeted to provide recognition to the students who complete the program. The Rotary Club supplies volunteers, with ASU students assisting.  

The GM Foundation's $5 million grant positions GM as the SAE Foundation's largest corporate contributor. The development and distribution of the Fuel Cell and the Gravity Cruiser -- AWIM's newest challenges are the result of GM's funding. In addition, GM's investment helped develop the AWIM website and Company Coordinator tools to extend AWIM's reach beyond the classroom. On a local level, GM monies provide for AWIM kits, and training of employee volunteers and teachers in GM communities. Teachers connected to a GM volunteer classroom receive kits at no cost to the school, teacher, or volunteer.  

At the start of the AWIM program, the student teams receive a letter from a fictitious Toy Company asking the teams to design, build, and test a toy that meets performance requirements established by the Toy Company. Volunteers come into the classroom one day a week to work with the students, but the teacher and the students spend at least two to three days per week working on the AWIM project. SAE provides all the lesson plans and materials, and designs the program to meet all federal and state science-teaching requirements.  

"AWIM's programs now reach 50,000 elementary and middle school students annually throughout the U.S., and have been in Arizona for the last five years," said Don Robins, a retired General Motors automotive engineer, and coordinator for AWIM in Arizona.  

"Twenty-one ASU engineering students volunteer in five different middle and elementary schools in the Valley as part of the SAE/AWIM program," Robins added. "Six students from the Polytechnic campus have also participated in the AWIM-sponsored programs and plan to enter their club's vehicle in the off-road recreational category of the SAE event in May," Robins said.  

Ricardo Rodarte, one of the seventh graders who built a gravity cruiser, said at first he didn't think it was going to work and was surprised when it did. "It's gravity and since … you can't even see it, I didn't understand how it was going to work . . . but the string attached to it pulls the wheel and axle and makes it spin," Rodarte said. David Sullivan, one of the parents present on the last day of the eight-week program, said his son Brian learned if it doesn't work the first time, he has to try and do it again. Sullivan added that he had no engineering background at all. "I couldn't even help him with it. So he was pretty much on his own."

Sun Lakes Rotarian Landon Osborn said, "I have been involved in AWIM programs for three years at Gila River Crossing (middle school), Fulton Ranch (elementary school), Canyon State Academy (the old Arizona Boys Ranch), and the Hill Academy (Chandler Schools alternative school). The two programs that I have helped students with are the gravity car and the electric gear driven car. The reason for my involvement started when two or three students from the Canyon State Academy spoke to our Sun Lakes Rotary Club and informed us about their school. One of the boys said that a judge told him it was either the school or jail. Obviously, he chose the school and subsequently did very well there.  

"While working with these teenagers, I have found a new hope in the future for our country. Many, certainly not all, have expressed desires to become engineers. That is exactly the aim of the program -- show young people that science and math can be fun and to ignite a passion that will enable this country to progress."  

"The Sun Lakes Rotary Club has formed a great partnership the SAE AWIM program because we both want to help kids, and what better way than getting then excited about math and science," Robins concluded. If you think your Rotary Club would like to partner with an AWIM program, or if you would like more information about the AWIM program, go to their website at www.awim.org or contact Don Robins in Sun Lakes, AZ at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .