To begin October, we have an announcement about the EdTech grant we awarded for September. Joining eight previous EdTech grant recipients in the calendar year of 2020, we’ve awarded September’s award to Michellea Millis, who’s an administrator with the BrownSTEM afterschool program in San Antonio, TX. She works with underrepresented Black and Latinx kids to provide them with STEM opportunities after school. And, of course, we’re excited to provide her with new STEAM tools for virtual projects this year.
Even before receiving our grant, they'd added afterschool experiences for middle and high schoolers and Michellea's led the way. They’ve also created their own version of a makerspace known as the CYBERLAB (Community-Based Youth Building Engagement and Restoration). Not only can students take part in STEM experiences they otherwise might not be able to, these experiences also feature specific projects related to cybersecurity, which, of course, is a prominent STEM career. There’s also a very strong social-emotional component to these experiences. And, that is largely because Michellea is always committed to helping all students develop interpersonal and leadership skills for success.
For now, the STEM programs offered through BrownSTEM will be virtual and asynchronous, but still allow these teens the chance to participate in project-based challenges. They’ll also have some chances to earn digital badges upon completing assignments and activities and the hands-on projects are slated to include some in the intriguing areas of coding, cryptology, spyware, robotics, and engineering. Every student who participates will be paired with a BIPOC mentor who will assist and inspire them throughout these projects. Besides that, these mentors will also be training them on how to become mentors themselves. They'll then help the younger students who will participate in the BrownSTEM program later on!
For the projects Michellea will be distributing to the kids in the program, she requested some Raspberry Pi kits, micro:bit kits, and other makerspace supplies for this grant award. The students will be using these kits in various areas, like coding, engineering, and for other 21st century problem solving. Michellea is even envisioning using some of these materials to create a virtual makerspace for students so they can replicate some of the experiences they’d have if they were participating in person. In the meantime, she still sees all students being able to complete projects, run simulations, and test their prototypes remotely.
Like most of our recent grant recipients, Michellea is dealing with finding any creative ways to keep STEM learning going remotely and it certainly sounds like she has a great plan in place for doing so! In the short term, Michellea has the goal of increasing participation in the various CYBERLAB activities. She's focusing on starting with 25 underrepresented students across Grades 6-12 and teaching them cybersecurity skills through activities like this. In the long term, she'll use data from the CYBERLAB program as the thesis for designing and implementing more spaces. She also plans to make sure they're innovative, engaging, and virtual for BIPOC students.
Michellea also knows the importance of providing young students with STEM opportunities as it pertains to achievement gaps. Since she works with many minority kids, it’s crucial to her to get and hold their interest in STEAM experiences. Her ultimate goal is then narrowing this gap and offering better experiences in their futures—starting with their earlier education. Through this CYBERLAB program and this grant offering, she hopes to inspire these students to explore STEM careers. Also, in a pilot program conducted last year, she was able to help one student discover her love for computer science simply because of all the fun she had coding—a perfect example of how access and opportunity can lead to success!
We thank Michellea for applying for our tech grant and congratulate her once again on her selection! She’s leading a truly great program and we’re proud to play our part by providing some STEM tools she needs. If you would like to apply for our next $500 grant award, the October application is now open. You can apply here (deadline is Oct. 20) or forward it to any educators you know who could benefit. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram as well for reminders and other EdTech, STEM, and MakerEd news and notes!