Guest Speaker For A Middle School Career Day

[shamsdebout]

I had the opportunity to speak to some middle school student about my line of work, this was my first time doing anything like this. I was happy to see the kids ask many questions freely some were well developed questions. Some questions were: how do you get shocked?, how many volts in a lighting strike?, how do you size conductors in an economical fashoin while complying with code. At the end of the day it felt good to pass on some knowledge.
What has been your experience speaking at a school career day?

 

[ctopher]

I love it when kids ask questions.
I have never been involved in school career day. I raised three kids and neither have ever had these days.

Worked for a company that had son/daughter days. I had the opportunity to show them how a part goes from concept, to design, to manufacturing. Usually about half are interested, but most are interested in the CAD models.

Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[moltenmetal]

Haven't done a career day, yet. Have done some classroom demos, though, and enjoyed them thoroughly each time. Could never be a full-time classroom teacher, though!

 

[stanweld]

While my experience was many, many moons ago and with High School students, it was quite rewarding. As a judge at our State Science Fair, I get to converse with Middle School and High School students and I would urge others to do the same [judge], if possible. The experience is highly enjoyable.

 

[shamsdebout]

moltenmetal, I agree about the teaching thing, even thought I thought about becoming a math teacher, the idea of having summers off also seemed desireable. I tip my had off to the teachers who are doing a great job. If given the opportunity again I would speak to the kids again.

 

[KENAT]

My step son banned me from going to his, that's my experience!

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[shamsdebout]

Kenat what did you know, mechanical engineers are cool.

 

[TDAA]

I have not spoken to a class, but my 4 year old loves to ask questions, and recently learned about the freeze/thaw cycle and how it generates rockfall.

Now, if he took to "why not to hit your sister" better, all would be good.

 

[berkshire]

shamsdebout (Electrical)
"how do you size conductors in an economical fashion while complying with code"

Was this kids dad an electrician or did he pick up on something you said.
If not you have a smart cookie lurking out there.
B.E.

 

[shamsdebout]

Ok I admit I reworded, but that was the gist of the question. They picked up on what I said and I too was surprised, I brought my codebook for them to see and some plans for them to look at. In speaking about my job duties and economical constraints a young girl asked that question.

 

[berkshire]

oops,
should have said he/she

B.E.

 

[MagMike]

I love giving classroom demos and it helped me land my current job.

I deal with magnetism and it always captures the students' imaginations. They are usually surprised to learn that not every metal (such as aluminum) is a magnet.

One morning, many years ago, I gave a classroom demo with some pretty strong magnets. The hands on my (analog) watch got messed up but I didn't notice until that afternoon when I went to a conference (on magnetics). I was waiting in line and noticed the problem with my watch. I asked the person next to me for the time and explained what happened. We struck up a conversation and he turned out to be an engineer at a magnetics company and they had an opening. He helped me land the job and turned out to be a great mentor. To think, I never would have spoken to him if my watch hadn't been messed up.

 

[cvg]

I took my step daughter to "bring your child to work day". We went to the airport to look at a proposed site for a new private jet terminal. I was there to evaluate the site for the drainage design. She was just 8 at the time and very impressed. I also helped proctor a "math counts" competition once with a lot of future engineers in attendance.

 

[dbooker630]

Our company has a relationship with one of the local middle schools; a few times each school year one of our engineers spends an afternoon in an 8th grade science class. I got the opportunity to talk about metallurgy and the day was fun for all of us!

 

[Loopee]

I did this once in my younger daughter's class. I think it was the 5th grade. I live in Tennessee and was telling them about the shuttle testing that I was a part of in middle TN at the Arnold Engineering Development Center.

At one point I was showing them the six degree of freedom motion directions using my hand as the shuttle, took them through pitch yaw roll ..all the motions...and I looked up and most of them had their little hands up going through the same motions. That little glimpse of what teaching can be all about was very enlightening for me.

The teacher eventually had to run me off. It was a great experience.

 

[shamsdebout]

Loopee,
That sounds very good, sounds like you stole the teachers thunder.