Students gain hands-on experience with professional tools and maker technologies at the Rutgers Makerspace, culminating in a digital portfolio and formal presentations of their prototypes.
The Honors Design Thinking Summer Academy is an intensive 5-day program where middle and high school students engage in the engineering design process. Students learn to identify real-world problems and develop innovative solutions through human-centered design, systems thinking, and creative problem-solving. They work in collaborative teams, utilizing professional tools and maker technologies such as CAD, 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics, and microcontrollers to transform their ideas into functional prototypes. Throughout the week, students document their progress and build a STEM-focused digital portfolio showcasing their design thinking, iteration, and technical skills. The academy culminates in formal presentations where students communicate their design decisions, constraints, and impact, fostering confidence and college- and career-ready engineering skills.
A typical day includes academic workshops, facility tours/labs, guest speakers, and group projects, with students utilizing the Rutgers Makerspace for hands-on prototyping.
This program is ideal for curious, ambitious middle and high school students who want to learn how to solve real-world problems using design thinking and innovation.
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
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