Weber State University’s College of Applied Science & Technology and College of Science hosted and sponsored a camp Aug. 5-9 where 35 local public teachers learned how to make core science principles more relevant to their students. 

The ASM Materials Camp® Teachers Camp is an idea-generating, hands-on lab experience that shows teachers how to use applied engineering techniques in the classroom. Participants met daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the chemistry labs on the fifth floor of the Science Laboratory building.

 “They will work with metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, and will develop a greater appreciation for the importance of these materials to modern life,” said Rainie Ingram, recruitment coordinator and STEP (Science Technology Engineering Partnership) director in the College of Applied Science & Technology. “The goal is to give teachers tools and resources to get kids interested in science and learning.” 

Hill Air Force Base’s STEM (science, technology, education, math) Outreach program director approached WSU about bringing the ASM camp to Ogden. Deborah Roach said HAFB has worked closely with WSU, ASM International and the local Salt Lake City ASM chapter to bring this camp to Ogden. 

“We believe there is a need for a program like this and look forward to hosting in the years to come and working with Weber State,” Roach said. 

Two out-of-state veteran science teachers instructed the ASM camp. Rebecca Heckman traveled from Cincinnati, Ohio where she serves as the science department chair at Princeton High School. After 20 years of teaching, Heckman attended her first ASM Materials Camp, and she said her outlook in the classroom changed dramatically. 

David McGibney has had more than 30 years of high school teaching experience in Oakland, Calif. and currently in Sammamish, Wash. He has taught material science technology for 10 years.

ASM Materials Camp® Teachers Camp Schedule

The camp included hands on, visual opportunities every day. 

Aug.5: Participants made cantilever support beams, created clay pots and crystals.

Aug. 6: Teachers poured molten tin, rolled metal, pulled wire, turned pennies into brass and made alloys of different concentrations of bismuth and tin.

Aug. 7: Participants performed experiments on corrosion in the morning and pulled laser optic fibers out of soda lime glass, formed glass beads on wires out of borax powder, and blew glass bubbles and bent glass.

Aug. 8: Teachers produced polymers, created molds and painted pottery.

Aug. 9: Participants dropped reinforced cement discs, tested their cantilevers, and pulled the ceramics from the furnace watching the oxidization and contraction. 

For more information about ASM camps, visit asminternational.org/portal/site/www/foundation/materials-camps