IEEE Volunteers are dedicated to a variety of engineering outreach initiatives. Many participate in outreach programs specifically aimed at supporting STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) initiatives for pre-university students. Nizar Rokbani was a 2021 IEEE STEM Ambassador and remains an IEEE Volunteer dedicated to STEM outreach at the pre-university level. In particular, he is proud of the STEM lessons and activities that he helped implement into the local school systems in Tunisia (Tunisia Section, R8).
“Currently in my locality, we have sustainable STEM clubs in extracurricular activities,” Rokbani shared when recently asked about his involvement in STEM at a pre-university level. “But also we have some lesson plans which are in curricula for technology education. Some lesson plans that we used to deploy and arrange are now very popular and educators run them with their students on their own, such as the Arduino blink challenge and the wind energy challenge. Those activities are conducted by the local educators as part of the local education activities in primary public schools. I’m proud to have contributed to that.”
Rokbani also shared why he believes STEM outreach is important at the pre-university level.
“Pre-university STEM outreach offers a panel of open activities which helps the development of technical literacy among learners in an early manner,” he stated. “It increases the level of awareness of young pupils about their own motivations in future STEM studies at the college and university level. For some of them, Pre-U STEM helps to make projections in technical jobs and engineering careers in a simple and effective manner.”
Rokbani also commented on how he measures success in pre-university STEM outreach.
“Measuring success in programs such as pre-university STEM outreach is not simple,” he stated. “Away from activities assessments, it took me some years to start receiving feedback from people enrolled in our activities.”
Rokbani continued to describe that this feedback has helped him learn which students loved learning about STEM and also which students are further pursuing STEM applications in their careers. With a growing demand for STEM careers in Tunisia, he encourages his students to pursue careers locally. His career as a university professor has not only allowed him to have this follow up engagement with students, but has also been a big part of why STEM outreach is so rewarding for him.
“I’m a university professor. The STEM activities allowed me to meet and share practices with colleagues and leaders from the primary school educators. I myself learned a lot and got a wider scope of STEM and engineering education. It has impacted my teaching practices.”
Nizar Rokbani is currently an Assistant Professor at ISSAT Sousse, University of Sousse in Tunisia. He is a member of the IEEE Tunisia Section and served as the section Treasurer from 2015-2016. He currently serves on the Pre-University Education Coordinating Committee (PECC) in IEEE. He is also a member of the University Activities Works Committee at IEEE R8 Professional and Educational Activities. You can read more about him on his LinkedIn profile.
Nizar Rokbani was selected as a 2021 IEEE STEM Ambassador as part of the former IEEE STEM Ambassador Program (now known as the IEEE STEM Champion Program).