The summer of STEM has kicked off in the District and several programs geared toward Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are planned in the nation’s capital.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington’s program development department has launched a STEM SENIOR Experience thru the YMCA Fit & Well Seniors program.
“The STEM SENIOR Experience gives seniors the opportunity to create, build and design through the process of science, creativity and play,” said William Yates, program director.
The program is also adaptable to seniors with disabilities, Yates said.
The various STEM challenges expand hands-on dexterity and provide the platform to think outside of the box. Seniors are also encouraged to explore environmental engineering principles that promote the overall improvement of air quality.
The program caters to the needs of more than 100,000 seniors residing in the District, many of whom are widowed, living on a modest income and have limited access to activities.
Launched in 2010, the free program helps seniors increase energy levels, improve mobility and benefit from an instant support network.
It also provides a variety of classes, health and lifestyle assessments, intergenerational activities, social clubs and a mobile unit — all free of charge, YMCA officials said.
The program also provides a variety of classes, health and lifestyle assessments, inter-generational activities, social clubs and a mobile unit — all free of charge.
Additionally, the District will host the National Youth Leadership Forum: Pathways to STEM, from July 22 to July 27.
The Times of India said D.C. is bound to have the best of everything, and when it comes to reputable STEM institutions it does not stand behind.
The District is home to several famous schools and colleges that focus on the overall growth and development of its students.
STEM institutions such as Sidwell Friends School and Poolesville High School offer world-class education in the field of science and technology.
The Sidwell Friends School is a highly selective Quaker school which offers schooling options from kindergarten through secondary school.
The school has notable politicians and successful innovators in its alumni and is also known as the “Harvard of Washington’s Private Schools.”
The Poolesville High School is also a public whole magnet high school with several special programs that focus on STEM subjects like the Global Ecology Program, the Humanities Program and more.
Dacia Jones has traveled all over the country to help train about a dozen teachers to incorporate STEM learning in their curricula as part of a program called “Ignite My Future in School.”
Now, a year into the program, she has seen teachers turn into “learning leaders” and kids build drones, code their own music and build tiny houses.
“There’s not a huge disconnect between what the curriculum looks like and what STEM is — it’s just that teachers need more professional development to connect these skills to the real world,” Jones told education website EdScoop.
“Ignite My Future in School,” started in 2017 by Discovery Education and Tata Consultancy Services, exposes middle school teachers to professional development around STEM. It started with about 12 coaches who trained educators in four pilot markets: Dallas; Janesville, Wisconsin; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and the D.C. metro area.
In the span of a year, the program has grown to reach 3,300 teachers and 185,000 students in more cities and states across the U.S. through both in-person training and online tutorials.
Bill Goodwyn, CEO of Discovery Education, called TCS “a truly innovative and purpose-driven company” and said it supports Discovery’s mission of preparing students with skills needed for success after graduation.
“Together, we are developing and delivering to educators’ dynamic digital resources that support the growth of critical computational thinking skills,” Goodwyn said.