Techy Tool Time with BioBus
The mini-grant award allowed BioBus to bring a series of hands-on technology-focused activities to a group of youth meeting at one of their local, community based organizations. BioBus’s “Tool Time” model allows for student driven inquiry at their own pace, based on tools and worksheets deployed at individual “Tool Time” stations (tables).
Each station allows someone to learn one tool and stimulated thinking how this tool could be applied. Examples of activities included: Use TinkerCAD to Stimulate Wiring and Coding, Code a Real Blinking Circuit, Power a Motor, Write a Code in Teknikio’s Code Builder and Learn what Bluebird Microcontroller can do, Make your own Airquality Sensor, and Learn how to Measure Airquality in your neighborhood.
Quotes/stories:
1. 5th & 6th grade group – they were super into the wiring, made things with switches & motors. They largely know what they are doing!
2. Making paper circuits station, 2 of the girls taught others in their group how to make it.
3. Participant Maria is very into the finch robot. Successfully programmed it to do a complicated obstacle course task! She was very proud of herself. “I’m super smart”. The following week she came back to the robot and solved another obstacle course. She worked closely with her friend, Participant Danna, who only speaks Spanish and taught her the programming. They worked together to create an obstacle course from scratch & programmed the robot to maneuver it.
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“The activities were very well received because they were not available in the students classroom. Most importantly, they boosted self confidence in girls at a very formative stage in their life! “
-Christine Marizzi
Brooklyn Robot Foundry
They held a STEM Eclipse Party in the Bronx which introduced the eclipse though a cool electronic project. They distributed eclipse glasses to everyone in attendance and also enjoyed a delicious lunch catered by Boogie Down Grind Cafe.
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“Their confidence grows as they take on and get through challenges” –Janine Harper
BestSelf Behavioral Health Building Brighter Futures STEAM Expansion
They provided an 8-week STEM immersion program for girls (n=30) in grades 2-4 attending their after-school programs at Elmwood Village Charter School (EVCS) and Buffalo United Charter School (BUCS). Girls participated in specialty programming provided by Engineering for Kids – 2 sessions per site (total of 4) were scheduled and supported through the grant.
In addition, they coordinated a field trip to the Buffalo Museum of Science on April 23, 2024 for the girls in the immersion program and were able to provide some additional STEM materials (snap-circuit kit) through the grant funding that will allow not only the girls in grades 2-4, but all students participating in the programs at EVCS and BUCS to continue to build upon their learning with multiple activities.
In late May/early June they are sponsoring a STEM immersion day at each program to highlight STEM. Parents/families and teachers will be invited to participate in a variety of STEM activity stations and they will use this opportunity to highlight projects and learning by the girls who were the target participants of the Million Dollar Moonshot grant.
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“Girls have shown greater interest and engagement in STEM-related activities, have demonstrated a greater willingness to actively participate, ask/answer questions. They have also demonstrated greater understanding of the importance and value of STEM.” –Gina Pannozzo
TBD
America On Tech – Tech Flex Leaders
Since January 2024, America On Tech has engaged 521 students across the country in their flagship technology skills and workforce readiness program, Tech Flex Leaders [TFL]. Tech Flex Leaders is a twelve-month immersive divided into two semesters with an additional summer internship. This program engages students interested in technology through: Robust weekly coding lessons taught by industry experts, followed by a deep dive into their chosen specialty area (advanced web development, UX design, digital marketing, product management, or data science), totaling more than 160 hours of instruction 5 Professional Development Days to create a resume, practice interviewing, and learn professional skills to confidently pursue internships and future degrees and careers in technology. Career-focused engagements that provide mentorship from leaders at top tech companies.
With roughly eight weeks left until graduation, they are on track to graduate and place 80% of enrolled TFL students in internships in NYC. They are particularly proud of their anticipated internship placement numbers this spring given the Adams administration’s recent cuts to the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Last year, they were able to place 276 interns who earned a collective $1.5M in wages.
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“In addition to their impressive technical growth, AOT students also grow tremendously as people while in our programs. To formally track outcomes, AOT has introduced Algohythym’s Hello Insight survey tool to measure Social Emotional Learning [SEL] impact in our programs. The system used predictive and prescriptive analytics to target recommendations for program design based on student need, and provides real-time data and outcomes analysis. The five Core SEL capacities being measured are Academic Self-Efficacy, Positive Identity, Social Skills, Contribution, and Self-Management. Overall, 82% of students are developing SEL, “succeeding,” as the TFL program is supporting them on a long-term journey towards thriving, improved academic performance, stronger health and wellness, and college and career readiness.
Within the New York 2022-2023 Tech Flex Leaders:
- 100% of students demonstrated gains in at least one SEL capacity.
- 99% of students demonstrated gains in 2+ SEL capacity.
- 86% of students demonstrated gains in 3+ SEL capacity.
- 61% of students demonstrated gains in 4+ SEL capacity.
- 32% of students demonstrated gains in all 5 SEL capacities.
We are anticipating similar results for the 2023-24 graduates.” -Lilly McNicholas
CROP
They did a week of Coding with the students along with different women that are in the engineering field. The students got to use different types of technology to see different ways they each take in information and what the output is. Students were able to see that different colors made the cars go different directions.
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“They have more of an interest in coding and technology. They will ask all the time to do activities with different technologies we have (Dashes, cubelets, ozobots, Indi Speros).” –Sandra Knapp
Can Code Communities
In this program, they are currently working with a group of 12 enthusiastic students. Their main focus is on Scratch block coding, with a particular emphasis on game development. They kicked off the program with a straightforward game and have been steadily progressing to more intricate game designs each week. These projects delve into various aspects of game creation, including motion, animations, sounds, and effects.
“It’s been exciting to witness the students’ growth as they explore the possibilities of coding and unleash their creativity through interactive game development.”
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“In our Moonshot program, there has been a noticeable transformation among the youth who initially hesitated to participate in certain programs, evolving into individuals who genuinely relish their experiences. Among all our programs, we’ve witnessed a significant boost in their confidence levels, particularly in tackling STEM-related subjects. Moreover, many of these young participants have discovered hidden talents and skills they didn’t realize they possessed, opening up new avenues of exploration and self-discovery. It’s incredibly gratifying to witness their growth and realization of their potential, showcasing the power of engaging and empowering educational initiatives.”
-Caro Anders-Maralit
Hornell YMCA
While funds are still being used, they began by purchasing supplies for weekly themed sensory bins.
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“Yes, we cant wait to buy the rest of our supplies to really make a bigger change and impact! Even the smaller things we have purchased so far have shown to be helpful!” -Kayleigh Osmond
Hope 7 Community Center
The mini-grant award allowed them to purchase new laptop computers for their program to use for a Girls Who Code club. They tried holding the club in 2022, however, the tablets they had were not sufficient for the program. They also used the funds to purchase a programmable robot to do STEM programming with all the children they serve.
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“I love to see the children in our program develop their curiosity and creativity through STEM based activities.”
“One girl in particular had been begging us to continue with the club, because she had loved it. Every week for the past year, she was asking when we would be able to do the club again. When I told her we finally had the technology to start the club back up, her eyes lit up.”
-Margaret Hall
Girls in STEM week at Holland Patent Middle School
We were able to purchase materials and have our own girls in STEM week here at Holland Patent Middle school. There was such love for the SNAP circuits that I used them with students in my classes. Students are begging for more time with the SNAP circuits. These will also be used for the Girls in STEM day at Utica University on April 13th, 2014. I will be sharing them at various New York State Master Teacher- Mohawk Valley Region events and roughly 100 teachers will be able to sign them out touse them with their students or within their district, or at any events they may do. This grant has the capacity to reach tens of thousands of students in the Greater Utica, Rome, Cooperstown and Oneonta rural Albany school districts!
How have students changed since the STEM programming?
“They question and wonder more!” -Justin Eberley
