Students explore engineering at NCI

Abigail Tatum doesn’t like just watching things happen. She wants to be involved. That’s part of why the rising sixth-grader enjoyed the Explore Engineering Camp at the New College Institute.
Held this past week, the camp was geared toward rising and current middle school students, aiming to let them see what exactly it is that engineers do. Students like Abigail learned about different types of engineers and the jobs they perform, from aerospace to biomedical and industrial.
“My favorite part was building and making things,” Tatum, who will attend Laurel Park Middle School this fall, said. “I don’t really enjoy just watching or listening; I enjoy doing new things.”
Using common, everyday items, students engaged in the engineering process to develop airplane models, balloon-powered cars, structural cylinders, and more.  Through these design contests, students learned the value of teamwork, collaboration, and various engineering principles.  The students also learned how to capitalize on mistakes and failure to create a better product or design.