Science and technology drive innovation, create economic opportunity, and are critical to national security. With increased competition globally for a skilled STEM workforce coupled with high barriers to participation in STEM, the missing millions, and the longstanding underrepresentation of some US communities, collective action is urgently needed to expand STEM education and training to meet critical workforce demands. Undergraduate research experiences, long recognized as a high-impact education practice, are critical to growing the nation's research and scientific community. However, the traditional bounded 10-week summer research model may artificially reduce the impact and outcomes for participating students, faculty, and organizations. In 2006, Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute launched a summer undergraduate research program that is constantly transforming into a global learning community that helps scholars to embark on a journey to find their space within robotics. Nearly 80% of our participating students attend graduate programs in STEM, and 95% are ultimately a part of the STEM workforce.
In this paper, we will:
- Discuss how David Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory informs our student experience design - Scholars explore the nature of research (discovery, collaboration, iteration), gain exposure to multiple robotic domains, engage in service learning, discuss policies with political and community leaders, and present and publish their research results.
- Demonstrate how the four stages of experiential learning (concrete learning, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation) and learning styles are helping us create more effective communicating research modules.
- Share a toolkit for launching an undergraduate research working papers journal.

Authors:
Rachel Burcin, Carnegie Mellon University, United States
Vishwas Mruthyunjaya, Megagon Labs, United States
John Dolan, Carnegie Mellon University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Rachel Burcin is Global Programs Manager and Co-Director of the Robotics Scholars Program at Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute. Her work focuses on growing and diversifying the robotics workforce through inclusive education design and assessment.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/rachelburcin

Additional website of interest
www.rachelburcin.com

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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