Nov 30
I had the great honor of working with the boys of Troop 414, about thirty of them ages 11 to 18. The night had been set aside to introduce the boys to new STEM Nova program the boy scouts of America have rolled out. The award program enables scouts to “Be Prepared” in a world …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/11/30/three-electric-cars-for-under-100-a-stem-nova-project/
Nov 20
It was amazing to see students at the end of 1st grade, only 2 years into the program, drawing electrical diagrams and cannibalizing circuitry from one toy to create something completely new. I attended the November 5 workshop by the Children’s Innovation Project at the CREATE LAB at Carnegie Mellon University. Melissa Butler and Jeremy Boyle presented the …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/11/20/kindergarten-and-circuit-boards-the-childrens-innovation-project/
Nov 14
I enjoyed a SPARK hosted lunch and presentation at the Carnegie Library in Oakland with Jean Barsotti, Director of the Beaver Falls Library. We have been discussing ways in which BC STEM and the Beaver Falls library can work together to make opportunities for students to master skills in digital media, robotics, video game design …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/11/14/film-making-in-a-library-carnegie-libraries-new-media-lab/
Oct 30
Announcing Engineers Week – You’re Invited to Celebrate If you are a student – visit http://www.discoverengineering.org/ or form a Future Cities Team! If you are an engineer – volunteer. Visit http://www.eweek.org for a list of places you are needed! For parents – review the Grand Challenges of Engineering with your child and discover what ignites …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/10/30/turning-point-in-us-engineering/
Oct 28
Grow a Generation advocates active learning, engaging young people in meaningful projects, and tapping into a person’s intrinsic motivation to learn. I’ve challenged parents and teachers to see technology as a tool to help develop a generation of innovators, critical thinkers, collaborators, young people able to take criticism, to fail and rise, who are empowered …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/10/28/assigning-wikipedia-entries-for-a-college-classroom/
Oct 16
I am thrilled to announce that I have accepted the job as director of the new Baden Academy Charter School Media Lab! I will continue to build my company, Grow a Generation (and finish the book!), teach part time at Duquesne, and volunteer in various roles such as Beaver County STEM. I now embark on …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/10/16/what-is-a-media-lab/
Oct 07
I was given a chance to preview a new documentary film on the state of math education in the United States, The Biggest Story Problem: Why America’s Students are Failing at Math. The film opens with stories of Middle School students struggling in math and quotes some alarming statistics. Three quarters of US students fail …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/10/07/the-biggest-story-problem-a-new-documentary/
Sep 28
I am so excited about the recent Beaver County STEM Education Advocacy Coalition (long name – but it explains what we do) meeting. The meeting focused on assembling the numerous people in the county using robotics to share ideas and inspire those that have yet to foray into this technological jungle gym. As you read …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/09/28/robots-a-fun-context-for-learning/
Sep 19
The news came a few weeks ago that Neil Armstrong had died. He is a personal hero and I mourn his loss, especially coming so soon after Sally Ride. I went into my computer and resurrected the slides from a presentation I did at the Western PA Montessori school, Neil and Buzz Go to the …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/09/19/neil-armstrong-bill-nye-and-the-war-on-math-and-physics/
Aug 19
USA Today calls Tony Wagner’s latest book “A road map for parents who want to sculpt their children into innovative thinkers.” I couldn’t agree more. Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World focuses on what we must do differently, as parents and educators, in a globalized and technologically altered world …
Permanent link to this article: https://growageneration.com/2012/08/19/creating-innovators-the-making-of-young-people-who-will-change-the-world/
