Karen B. Plaster
Professor of Practice
Elementary Mathematics & Integrating Engineering
Professional Service
Selected
State of Ohio, Computer Science State Standards and Model Curricula writing committee, 2018
FIRST LEGO League (FLL)
- Director of the University of Akron’s FIRST LEGO League (FLL) District tournament held Jan. 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & Dec. 2018, 2019
- Hosted 40 FLL teams (made of 4th through 8th graders) and 40 Jr. FLL teams from NE Ohio and their families annually
- Recruited and organized over 75 volunteers annually
- Partnered with the College of Engineering, Rockwell automation and NE Ohio STEM alliance leaders
- Attended Ohio FLL meetings and training
- FIRST World Tournament Project Judge, 2018, 2019
- Kirtland Regional FLL tournament, Tournament Director, 2015
- Snowed-In Regional FLL tournament at the University of Akron, Tournament Director, 2016
- Solon Regional FLL tournament, Project Judge, 2013; Field Manager, 2014; Tournament Director, 2015
- Cleveland Regional tournament, Head Project Judge, 2015
- Lorain Community College Regional FLL tournament, Field Manager, 2013, 2015
- Hathaway Brown Regional FLL tournament, Core Values Judge, 2013; Project Judge, 2014
- Hudson Regional FLL tournament, Field Manager, 2012, 2013
- Seton Catholic Regional tournament, assisted in running tournament, 2014
- State of Ohio Tournament, Project Judge, 2015, 2019, 2020; Field Manager, 2016 - 2018
- Organized FLL Judges Training at University of Akron, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Organized FLL Scrimmage at University of Akron, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Organized FLL Programming workshop at the University of Akron for FLL teams, 2013
NEOHBOTS - Mission to grow FLL throughout Northeast Ohio
- Co-Founder & Board Member 2014 - current
- Outreach & Tournaments committee chair
Summit & Stark County
- Code Hopper, organizer 2018 to present
- Code Girl, Fall 2016, 2017, 2018
- Girls Who Code, leader, Fall 2016 to 2019
- Western Reserve Boys and Girls Club “Math Night,” Spring & Fall 2014, 2015, 2016
- Judge, BEST Medicine Science Fair, 2016
- Judge, Akron Public Schools Science Fair, 2014
- PI Day activities at East Middle School, Spring 2013
- Akron Public School STEM High School Professional Development Committee, Spring 2012
- Judge, Stark County Math Tournament, 2009-2014
- Mentored Choose Ohio First STEM students through annual project, Spring 2012