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Hands-on Experience in Rehabilitation Engineering Outreach (HERO)
Project Staff Mission
Project Description
The HERO program brings together local Middle School and High School students with young Cal
State LA engineers to engage in hands-on engineering activities. The activities will be coordinated
with the classroom teacher's ongoing curriculum for maximum benefit to the class. The Cal State
engineering students serve as mentors to the younger students, introducing them to creative
activities, which build on the students’ classroom work while introducing them to an exciting
application for engineering skills in the field of Rehabilitation. The mentors will provide
classroom presentations describing personal backgrounds, life path choices and their consequences,
and the importance of education, along with their own experiences as grade school and college
students. The personal introductions will be followed by a general "what is Engineering?"
Project Objectives 
How the Program Works: The program is divided in to two phases during the academic year. Phase 1 will be an introduction to engineering and a preparatory course for Phase 2. The same students may complete both phases if they are interested and academically able. The classroom cycles are eight weeks in duration; the project workshops will run an entire class period (50 minutes to 1.5 hr), meeting once a week. PHASE 1: 
The first phase will give the students a general overview and definition of Engineering and show how it plays a big part in our society. Students will learn a few basic principles and will solve design problems by planning and building their projects. The students will have the opportunity to design projects both individually and as members of a team. Phase 1 will make engineering exciting and fun while building entertaining self-propelled devices, bridge structures and other straightforward projects. PHASE 2: The students will learn about assistive devices and their importance in rehabilitation. The students will become more sensitive to the ways people with disabilities and their families live each day. They will understand the role of Rehabilitation Engineering in improving their lives. The program will challenge and enhance students’ skills in math and verbal problem solving projects as they plan and build devices that will assist individuals with physical disabilities. The students will experience the excitement of solving real problems and knowing how their device helped someone.
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Last modified: July 28, 2005 |
overview, and then a description of the Rehabilitation Engineering field and how the design of
wheelchairs, communication aids and other assistive technologies can play a vital role in helping
disabled and elderly people. Mentors will then help bring this descriptive material to life by
introducing classroom projects in two Phases. Phase 1 will be small and simple design & build
projects such as self-propelled machines and wooden bridge structures. Phase 2 projects will
be more advanced, addressing rehabilitation needs of people. Phase 2 will introduce devices and
systems to assist the physically challenged individual. Program participation will enhance
students’ math and verbal skills while engaging their energies with active problem solving.
Past experiences with the program showed that these exercises could help to enhance the
self-esteem of students who may be talented but are having difficulty with the standard
curriculum, and even help to draw into the picture parents who may be otherwise disengaged.
