10.6084/m9.figshare.5450848.v1 Devin Berg Devin Berg Meghan Donahue Meghan Donahue Matthew Wigdahl Matthew Wigdahl Charis Collins Charis Collins Mechatronics Workshop for Elementary School Outreach figshare 2017 mechatronics engineering outreach K12 education Education Higher Education 2017-09-28 14:37:05 Presentation https://figshare.com/articles/presentation/Mechatronics_Workshop_for_Elementary_School_Outreach/5450848 In an attempt to engage a classroom of fifth-grade students in an engineering design experience, we took advantage of the prior experiences of a larger collaboration which demonstrated that these students gravitate towards projects which involve electronics while also providing an opportunity to help people. The field of assistive technology, which provides a means of achieving greater independence and standard of living through the integration of technology with the tasks of everyday life and work, served as a suitable application for the student's natural inclinations towards helping others. Supporting evidence was also found in the literature where it is argued that assistive technology is a field that provides a rich opportunity for students to engage with their peers, their community, and the world at large in a meaningful way. Further, the use of project-based design experiences has been shown to improve student engagement, use of divergent thinking, and teamwork skills.<div><br></div><div><i>Presented at the 2017 ASEE North Midwest Section Conference in Minneapolis, MN on 29 September 2017.</i></div>