Digital Explorations (DE) is a program sponsored by the Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Each year DE sponsors a group of students who engage in a number of activities related to applied mathematics, engineering, science, technical communications, and digital media. The order of activities is along the following lines:
- Students choose a topic of interest to them in any area of science or engineering.
- They construct a game or application using Flash that in some way involves illustrating or working with the topic.
- They construct the project.
- They write a lab that shows others how the construct the project.
- They place their projects on a web site to allow others to access the projects.
- During the summer months, they work with the Digital Explorations summer program, which invites high school students to come to CU for two weeks to explore the campus and give consideration to what it is to pursue a college degree involving applied mathematics, science, or engineering.
DE participants also become involves in efforts that are important to them as individuals seeking to pursue careers in applied mathematics, engineering, or science. Among such activities are the following:
- Applying for grants from the National Science Foundation
- Preparing and presenting a presentation at a conference
- Working with other students to develop tools for learning and teaching using technology.
In its third year, DE has seen many of its participants go on to graduate studies or pursue promising careers in industry. Among its summer high school participants, it has seen several student apply to the University of Colorado, Boulder, and pursue degrees in engineering.
DE has also partnered with outreach programs, such as Broadening Opportunity through Leadership and Diversity (BOLD). The BOLD center is a program set up to help college students pursue engineering studies. It offers scholarship and other aids. The bold center can be reached here.
CU BOLD Center Website DE also works with is the Mentoring through Critical Transition Points (MCTP) program, through which it is able to sponsor the efforts of graduate and undergraduate students as they work with projects involving technology and learning.Funding for Digital Explorations is provided by the Department of Applied Mathematics, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Arts and Sciences Support of Education Through Technology (ASSETT).
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