SolidWorks software donation supports
fusion of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in education
CONCORD, Mass., Feb. 27, 2006 —
SolidWorks Corporation today announced it would grant SolidWorks®
Student Edition CAD software to as many as 1,000 individual U.S. educators in a
new initiative aimed at improving students’ math skills and their interest in
technology-related careers.
The SolidWorks-STEM Educators grant – whose acronym stands for science,
technology, engineering, and math – includes training and lesson
plans to help teachers and faculty from middle school through college integrate
the four separate disciplines for more effective education.
With backing by the National Science Foundation (NSF), STEM is an emerging
movement in American education, which is increasingly realizing that global
competitiveness requires students to be technologically literate. STEM addresses
academic warning signs such as
a new study funded by the Department of Education that found that U.S. math
students in 4th and 8th grade perform consistently below peers around the world
and continue that trend into high school.
“STEM Education is absolutely critical for the U.S. to lead the world in high
technology innovation,” said Dr. Krishna Vedula, executive chairman of the
Massachusetts STEM Collaborative and former dean of engineering at the
University of Massachusetts – Lowell.
“STEM integrates ‘pure’ math and science with the disciplines to which they’re
applied, and CAD software can play an integral role in this endeavor.”
The SolidWorks-STEM
Educators grant includes:
One copy of SolidWorks Student Edition software, including
COSMOSWorks®, COSMOSMotion™, and COSMOSFloWorks™;
SolidWorks Education Edition curriculum and courseware CD for
instructors;
A self-paced online course that demonstrates ways educators can
incorporate 3D geometry with science, technology, engineering, and math
concepts;
20 hours of step-by-step tutorials;
Access to the SolidWorks Teacher Community Web site; and
Monthly online SolidWorks-STEM symposia focusing on new approaches
to math, algebra, geometry, biology, chemistry, physics, art, and economics.
After completing the online course, teachers must demonstrate their competency
by producing a short STEM lesson for the classroom that will be shared on the
SolidWorks Teacher Community. SolidWorks will then provide an electronic
certificate to the teacher documenting 30 hours of professional development
work.
“Teachers trained on SolidWorks software will be better equipped to teach math
and science concepts,” said Marie Planchard, SolidWorks Corporation’s director
of education marketing. “For example, CAD software is adept at conveying 2D and
3D geometry concepts to younger students and
illustrating algebra and physics principles in later years.
Teachers can apply these topics in engineering projects such as designing a CO2
car and simulating the effects of air flow with respect to
changes in geometry,” she said.
“With SolidWorks CAD software and COSMOS analysis tools, teachers can build on
their own competencies while sharing new ideas with their students,” Planchard
continued. “STEM education answers the persistent student question, ‘Why do I
need to know math?’ by bringing science, technology, engineering, and math
together in a dramatic and effective way.”
How to apply
Teachers must apply for SolidWorks-STEM Educators grants by April 1, 2006 at
http://www.dasi-solutions.com/stemgrant.
Grants will be awarded in May and June 2006, and assignments must be completed
during the summer of 2006. For more information, listen to a podcast on the
SolidWorks-STEM Educators grant at
http://www.solidworks.com/mediapodcast.
About DASI Solutions
Founded in 1995, DASI Solutions assists Emerging Sector
companies in the implementation of CAD, CAE, and PDM collaborative technologies
used in the product development process by the Designing Engineer. DASI
Solutions offers a host of Solution Partner software products that are tightly
integrated with SolidWorks and COSMOS. The company has authorized sales,
training, and technical support facilities located throughout Michigan and
Northern Indiana which include Sterling Heights, Pontiac, Kalamazoo and Grand
Rapids. For more information on the company call 248-333-2996 x 203 or visit
www.dasi-solutions.com
About SolidWorks Corporation
SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq:
DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops
and markets software for mechanical design, analysis,
and product data management. It is the #1 supplier of 3D
mechanical design software for the mainstream market.
SolidWorks leads the market in number of users in
production, customer satisfaction, and revenue.
# # #
SolidWorks is a registered trademark of
SolidWorks Corporation. COSMOS and COSMOSWorks are
registered trademarks and COSMOSFloWorks and COSMOSMotion
are trademarks of Structural Research and Analysis
Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks of
their respective owners. Copyright (c) 2006 SolidWorks
Corporation.
Contact:
David
Darbyshire
Phone: 248-333-2996 x 203
