Educational outreach

Educational Engineering and Science Student Outreach (EESSO)

Educational Outreach serves as an educational liaison unit for the Missile Defense Agency. EESSO's goal is to expose K-12 students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, curricula, and activities, to increase the STEM pipeline for workforce development. Activities involve students, school site personnel, parents, and others involved in educational and career decision processes.


EESSO Activities

The MDA’s Educational Outreach team is only one part of a wide-reaching initiative to excite students about STEM disciplines. We work to develop new activities and programs as well as support area programs already in place.

 

MDA Engineering in Art: 3-D ART IN MOTION

The MDA’s EESSO team is proud to participate in widening students’ understanding of engineering. Engineering in Art is a program aimed to provide upper elementary school students an opportunity to explore visual arts. Students will study artists of kinetic art sculptures and will be able to identify engineering design and science concepts through the understanding of art principles. The program will culminate with students producing their own kinetic artwork.
For more information about becoming involved with Engineering in Art, please contact us.

 

MDA Math Challenge Week

Are you up for a challenge? EESSO’s signature outreach activity is The MDA’s Math Challenge Week (MCW). MCW challenges middle school students to apply mathematical skills in order to win a team-based competition. We offer training to teachers to facilitate implementation of this module during the summer.

Interested in having a MDA Math Challenge Week at your school? Please have the secondary education lead for the school system contact us.

 

MDA Classroom Speakers

Speak up! They can’t hear you! We realize great emphasis is placed on math, science and technology in classroom settings. Where possible, we offer subject matter experts who use these subject areas in their daily work and allow them to share their experiences from college to career with classroom students.

Contact us if you would like to have a speaker from MDA discuss STEM careers.

 

MDA’s Target…? College!

What’s the goal? College! In a bi-monthly, roundtable format, we will share information with parents, educators, school counselors, community service and public services working with or supporting 6th -12th graders regarding STEM education, college preparation, careers and related topics. Examples include:

  • Understanding the Impact of High School Course Selection
  • Deciphering Standardized Test Scores
  • Enriching Summer Experiences Through Co-ops, Internships, and Apprenticeships
  • Extracurricular Activities Aiding STEM Academic Abilities
  • Technological Innovations Relevant for Academic Success

For more information about becoming a panel or audience participant for the next “Target…? College!,” please contact us.

 

In addition to providing direct services and activities, ESSO provides volunteer support to agencies, organizations and schools, including, but not limited to, the following.

 

Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) Robotics

Alabama Regional IEEE Future City Competition

 

Sci-Quest Hands-On Science Center: Expanding Your Horizons

 

UAHuntsville’s Innovative Project for Increased Recruitment of Engineering and Science Students (INSPIRESS)

 

North Alabama’s Junior Achievement

 

Contact Us

We would like to hear from you – Students, Parents, Teachers, Counselors, and other STEM community members. Are you seeking support for a STEM-related activity? Are you interested in volunteering for one of our upcoming activities? Are you a teacher, parent, or student seeking additional information about our programs and the STEM career fields?

If so, please contact us at educationaloutreach@mda.mil and we will be glad to answer your questions.

For information about other STEM resources, please visit Federal Resources for Educational Excellence, National Defense Education Program,  Army Educational Outreach,  AMRDEC Outreach,  or NASA