Information For Teachers

Check out our Facebook group for teachers to connect and share ideas, projects, and pics! Go to Facebook and look for the EPICS High - Teachers group.

If you are a teacher at one of our EPICS sites, you can find information on the upcoming training sessions along with other information that will help with the implementation. For schools new to the idea of EPICS High and interested in learning more about how to participate in the program please check out the links on this page. Also listed is the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) document that was completed and signed by each of the schools participating. In this document are the requirements and criteria for participating in the program to reference if needed.

What is EPICS?

"EPICS" stands for Engineering Projects in Community Service. In the program, teams of students with varying interests and strengths work on projects that solve engineering and technology-based problems with community service and education organizations. This partnership provides many benefits to the students and the community alike. For example, EPICS teams have developed projects ranging from homelessness prevention to environmental protection to creating learning devices for children with disabilities.

What Do EPICS Students Learn

  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Design
  • Creativity
  • Leadership
  • Project Management
  • Community Awareness
  • Entrepreneurship

EPICS stakeholders

Picture compliments of Elizabeth Seaton High School EPICS Project

Meeting Academic Standards With EPICS

Many standards can be achieved through EPICS. A strength of the EPICS model is that it is a highly successful method of service-learning for students with varying academic interests. EPICS links engineering to these various academic experiences and achieves standards.

EPICS addresses critical areas in academic standards including standards in math, science, and language arts. the curriculum as aligned to the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) along with the National Standards in Mathematics and ELA. EPICS is innovative in integrating technology and standards. Specific projects will achieve different standards, and all course participants will be required to do the following: Effectively communicate; master good communication to both receive and disseminate information and understand others; problem-solve; utilize mathematical and logical skills; deliver multimedia presentations; learn and retain; complete design practices and understand design principles; understand the importance of effective planning; understand and use equations, formulas, and graphs to meet project objectives; provide leadership; learn technical skills; use mathematical and scientific theories in practical applications; write in the form of journals and procedural summaries; gain a better understanding of the needs in their community; and work as a team member.

How Do We Become an EPICS School?

Summer Training Information

Becoming an EPICS School is easy! Schools are asked to complete a Memorandum of Understanding with EPICS K-12 for approval and are then highly encouraged to attend an EPICS summer training either at Purdue University or at one of our Hubs throughout the United States. This training will help teachers learn how to implement and maintain a program, to connect with various resources available to them as an EPICS school, and walk through the EPICS Engineering Design Process. 

Memorandum of Understanding

The Memorandum of Understanding is a document that is signed by the teacher and the administration from the school which states that the school will be participating in the EPICS program and will brand their projects as EPICS. Additionally, the teachers and students will be asked to participate in a survey for us to be able to gauge the program's effectiveness and as a tool to improve the program's implementation and resources. Digital Version MOU

Logos

Your participation in the EPICS K12 program requires that you use the EPICS Logo on all marketing and printed materials including press releases. Those who are Learn and Serve America grantees are also required to use the LSA logo on all marketing materials they produce. Additionally, you may want to use the EPICS Design Cycle in your marketing materials, which is linked here. 

EPICS stakeholdersEpics Design Cycle

If these do not work for you, please let us know at the EPICS office and we will work to find a format that works. You are not required to use the Purdue University logo, but an official logo has been provided if needed.

Contact Info

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us:

Charese Williams, EPICS K12 Coordinator
Purdue University
Ph. (765) 496-1889
charese@purdue.edu