Educating K-12 students on career opportunities in the field of transportation is essential to improving the workforce.
Several activities are underway throughout the country, ranging from DOT engagement with K-12 students to actual high schools focused developing transportation professionals. A collection of resources below focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs related to transportatoin. We are looking to identify more programs and resources for K-12 students that will enable the TSMO workforce. Please email Adam Hopps with any information that would be useful to share with the broader community.
ITE STEM Resources
ITE's STEM Resources include activities, lessons, and projects focused on transportation related STEM projects for K-12.
ASCEVille
With ASCEville.org, ASCE is helping kids open the floodgate to a deeper exploration of civil engineering through the addition of content specifically focused on many of the project areas in which civil engineers work. Through exploration of easily identifiable structures in their daily lives like dams, bridges, roads and transportation, water systems, sustainability and disaster response, kids will come away with a broader understanding of how civil engineers help find technological solutions to overcome many of the world’s most interesting challenges.
T-STEM Academy in Memphis, TN
The Southeast Transportation Workforce Center (SETWC) at the University of Memphis, including the development of a Transportation STEM (T-STEM) academy at East High School in Memphis, TN. The vision is that this school and its collaborative partnerships will become a local, regional, and national example for preparing students for STEM careers, with particular focus on the transportation industry. The T-STEM model will serve as a platform for truly transformational educational experiences for students that prepare them to be successful in post-secondary career and educational endeavors. More information is available here.
Resources For Teachers
SETWC Transportation Academy Lesson Plans for High School Students: Agenda, lesson plans, and resources developed by SETWC staff for the week-long summer Transportation Academy for high school students.
NanoSonic STEM Lesson Plans: Engaging transportation activities for middle and high school students, all tied to STEM content and concepts!
National Employability Skills Framework: Central clearinghouse on resources for instruction and assessment for employability skills
Strengthening Skills Training & Career Pathways Across the Transportation Industry: Fact sheet and full report examining six subsectors in transportation including: trucking, highway construction and maintenance, transit and ground passenger transportation, rail, air, and maritime transportation
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL) Competency Model: Collaboratively developed competency model highlighting personal, academic, workplace, industry, and sector competencies necessary for success in TDL careers
Heavy Highway Civil Construction Competency Model: Collaboratively developed competency model highlighting personal, academic, workplace, industry, and sector competencies necessary for success in highway civil construction careers
Transportation Lesson Plans (www.transportationcareers.org): Resources developed through Career Clusters partnership between US Department of Transportation and National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education, including transportation careers modules, fully tested problem-based scenarios, and other materials to support integration of transportation topics in the classroom
Transportation Lesson Plans (from University of Memphis Transportation Engineering Careers program): Standards-based lesson plans integrating science, technology, engineering, and math content in hands-on, problem-based format set within a transportation context
Go! Exploring the World of Transportation:Web resource containing career information, curriculum, articles, and comics related to transportation
Resources For Students
Fast Forward: Comprehensive, interactive web resource containing transportation career profiles, video interviews of transportation professionals, career exploration newsletter, and transportation-related scholarship and internship opportunities
US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Careers: Resources highlighting FHWA careers, the online application process, and internship programs
US Department of Transportation Careers in Motion: Student Employment Initiative resources including internships, volunteer opportunities, descriptions of jobs by college major, and tips for getting prepared for a career with US DOT
O*NET OnLine Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Career Cluster: Career resources including job categories, detailed work descriptions, and required skills, knowledge, education, and/or certifications for transportation career cluster occupations with links to job openings, apprenticeships, and training programs
West Tennessee STEM Hub: Transportation fact sheets and professional profiles (STEM Spotlights) highlighting transportation career opportunities