Engineering Open House 2008
Exhibitor Form | Department Coordinators | Pointers for Exhibitors | Friendly Reminders for Exhibitors | Info for Attendees | Photos
Pointers for Exhibitors
To assist you in developing exhibits for Open House, we have compiled the following list of suggestions to meet the needs of those in attendance, primarily the K-12 audience:
- Your department is highly encouraged to have the same exhibits run both Friday and Saturday of Open House as well as the entire time Open House has committed to being open (Friday 9-3pm and Saturday 10-2pm).
- Make sure to include two levels in your exhibits: one for younger children (grades K-6) and another for older individuals (grades 7-12+).
- You may want to consider separating your exhibits (location of exhibit) to target age appropriateness, i.e., younger age group (K-6) in one area and older age group (7-12) in another area. We have received feedback that some of the smaller children have a difficult time seeing over taller kids.
- Make sure that individuals running the exhibits pay attention to the current audience that they are talking / presenting to. Speak to the individuals at their level.
- Make presentations interactive and hands-on. Anything students do themselves will engage their minds and is a lot more fun for the attendees.
- If you have poster board presentations, make sure someone is available to answer questions and explain what is being presented. Please make it clear on your exhibitor form if it is a poster-board presentation.
- Challenge your audience by asking them questions in the exhibit, e.g., what material is this made of? How do you know? Et cetera.
- Provide students with something they can take with them that represents your department - puzzle, toy, colorful flyer, pencil, website information on a bookmark - Et cetera.
- Focus on the future and future possibilities.
- Use teaching games or puzzles.
- Create links between what the exhibit does and how it can help people, animals and the environment.
- Have a section explaining how the exhibit ties in with your field, including careers in your field and job opportunities - what can one do with this degree?
Our thanks to Patricia MacGowan, former Director of MESA, for developing the above list. MESA works with primary and secondary school children. The MESA Series middle level curriculum provides integrated mathematics and science activities with career links and family activities. Constance Wood and Anna-Maria de la Fuente have offered to serve as a resource for those creating exhibits. They can be reached at: cwood@engr.washington.edu, (206) 221-7027 or fuente@engr.washington.edu, (206) 616-9654.
In addition, many engineering programs and departments conduct K-12 outreach efforts. Check with your department/program to see who your K-12 person is in your unit. For other assistance, please contact Pamela Shute at pjshute@u.washington.edu.
