Rice ELITE Tech is a summer engineering program hosted on Rice University’s campus that introduces high school students to a wide range of engineering topics through hands-on coursework.
In summer 2023, I worked as an instructor, teaching two curricula: 3D Printing & Modeling and Python for Mechanical Engineering. Over the course of the program, I taught hundreds of high school students through a mix of in-person and online classes.
3D PRINTING & MODELING
In the 3D Printing & Modeling curriculum, I taught students how to use Fusion 360 for CAD, along with introductory concepts in additive manufacturing.
Due to the scale of the classes, students’ final design projects were outsourced for production through Shapeways and shipped directly to them. One of the most rewarding parts of the course was seeing how quickly students’ creativity took off once they became comfortable with CAD tools.
Due to the scale of the classes, students’ final design projects were outsourced for production through Shapeways and shipped directly to them. One of the most rewarding parts of the course was seeing how quickly students’ creativity took off once they became comfortable with CAD tools.
PYTHON FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
In the Python course, I introduced students to programming fundamentals through an engineering-focused lens. The main project involved writing a Python program to simulate thermal changes in a mass over time.
To connect code to the real world, we compared simulation results to experimental data by measuring the internal temperature of apples and potatoes placed in boiling water. This helped students see how programming, modeling, and physical systems intersect.
To connect code to the real world, we compared simulation results to experimental data by measuring the internal temperature of apples and potatoes placed in boiling water. This helped students see how programming, modeling, and physical systems intersect.
WHAT I TOOK AWAY
There's a very true saying: If you truly understand a topic, you should be able to explain it simply. This experience helped me further develop the ability to communicate technical ideas clearly to people without a technical background, a skill I’ve found invaluable.
It was especially fulfilling to watch students gain confidence quickly and then push their final projects in creative directions once the tools clicked.