Multi-state TECHFIT program seeking teachers to participate
May 5, 2015
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – TECHFIT, a program designed to inspire students to design and implement technology-based fitness games that get people moving and having fun while simultaneously improving their health, is still accepting applications from middle school teachers in Indiana and South Carolina, as well as those from nearby states, to participate in a summer professional development program.
The professional development program will be June 22-27 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, and July 20-25 at Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. An online application form is available at http://techfit.tech.purdue.edu/Teacher_App2015.aspx, and the deadline to apply is May 15.
There is no cost to participate, and teachers who complete all program requirements qualify to receive a stipend up to $1,100 and professional development credit.
TECHFIT – or Teaching Engineering Concepts to Harness Future Innovators and Technologists – is part of a three-year project headed up by Purdue College of Technology professors Brad Harriger and Alka Harriger. Funded by a National Science Foundation grant, TECHFIT is designed to use youths’ interest in video games and problem solving to inspire them to gain the STEM skills needed to invent technology-based fitness games.
The project’s goals are to increase children's interest in science, technology, engineering and math; and decrease childhood obesity. Mike and Susan Flynn, two former Purdue faculty and current College of Charleston faculty, are providing their health and fitness expertise to the TECHFIT project.
TECHFIT includes a summer professional development program for middle school teachers and an afterschool program during the school year for sixth- through eighth-grade students. TECHFIT unites teachers from different disciplines at the same school and shows them how to work collaboratively to develop an afterschool program in which the end goal is the creation of a unique exergame using component parts from a supplied technology toolkit valued at $4,000. The TECHFIT team will provide technical support to the teacher teams delivering the afterschool program.
All school teams will return to the host institution in December to present their exergames at the TECHFIT Showcase.
Sources: Brad Harriger, 765-494-7515, bcharrig@purdue.edu
Alka Harriger, 765-494-2565, harrigea@purdue.edu
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