AWIM Special Initiatives

Resources

The Alcoa Foundation

Cleveland Metropolitan School District Initiative Sponsored by the Alcoa Foundation

Project Overview
Today's students are the technology leaders of tomorrow. Alcoa recognized this and began working with local schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in 2006, by making a gift to the SAE Foundation in order to expose students to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experiences. In 2007, these funds supported a summer camp for students in the Cleveland schools. Realizing the need on a much larger scale, volunteers from Alcoa and neighboring companies have given their time to help facilitate using the A World In Motion (AWIM) program in a district wide initiative throughout the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Today over 60 Alcoa employees volunteer their time each year to more than 65 local classrooms within the Cleveland area.

For 20 years, the AWIM program has focused on STEM education at the K-12 level. This program continues to expand through a generous gift from the Alcoa Foundation which provides the funding for training teachers and volunteers along with AWIM classroom material kits for the students in Cleveland Metropolitan Schools.

Project Highlights
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District Initiative creates...

  • an opportunity for over 1500 students to participate in hands-on activities that provide a foundation for STEM learning
  • a unique experience for industry volunteers to participate in the classroom learning experience acting as content experts and mentors
  • a chance for every fifth grade teacher in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to expand student exposure to quality STEM curriculum
  • an avenue for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to obtain the National Science Board Award Winning AWIM curriculum for classroom use free of charge.

Project Goals/Expectations

  • To expose 45 or more fifth grade teachers in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to a quality STEM education experience through the A World In Motion Program
  • To create a community connection where engineers can give back to their own community by enlisting 40 or more volunteers from Alcoa and neighboring companies
  • To pair every 5th grade teacher, who participates in the AWIM program, in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District with a trained STEM professional in the classroom to serve as a content expert and student mentor during the AWIM experience.