{"id":3560,"date":"2016-07-01T12:37:24","date_gmt":"2016-07-01T20:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.techykids.com\/?p=3560"},"modified":"2016-07-01T12:37:24","modified_gmt":"2016-07-01T20:37:24","slug":"techykids-uses-innovative-technologies-to-inspire-kids-in-stem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techykids.com\/staging\/3266\/archives\/3560","title":{"rendered":"TechyKids uses Innovative Technologies to Inspire Kids in STEM"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently I woke up to a <\/span>Facebook post<\/span><\/a> that went viral with 15,000 shares about a 10 year old who applied for a Paris Innovation fellowship with a project she had made with the <\/span>Thymio Robot<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>TinkerCAD<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0It was an unusual application \u201camidst mostly computer science Phds and seasoned urban designers\u201d, says the Founding Partner of Five By Five, Kat Borlongan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe streets of Paris are sad. I want to build a robot that will make them happy again. I\u2019ve already starting learning how to code on Thymio robots, but I have trouble making it work. I want to join the program so the mentors can help me.\u201d <\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Photo
Photo of 10-year old\u2019s Thymio Project: http:\/\/corot.top\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She cleverly asked for help from the organization\u2019s leaders with programming her robot. \u00a0Since then, the young girl, her inspiring project and ambitious proposal has been wrote about in <\/span>Time Magazine<\/span><\/a>, and many other news outlets. \u00a0Joyfully, this young girl has been accepted for the fellowship opportunity in Paris and will be attending this July.<\/span><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s world it is most important to display the passion, courage, optimism and confidence to go after opportunities that seem difficult to achieve. \u00a0It is also important for kids to learn tools that they can master to power their learning and help achieve their goals. \u00a0If we empower kids to be able to learn to ask the questions that gets them answers that put them in the driver’s seat of their learning then they are able to create their own learning paths. \u00a0\u00a0This 10 year old girl is a great example of what we hope for our kids.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Girl<\/p>\n

Parents and teachers dream about kids getting excited about learning, finding their personal passions and becoming inspired to create amazing things. \u00a0In today\u2019s world it\u2019s becoming even more important to make technology come alive for our kids to prepare them for the future, and to help in building a better world.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a female mechanical engineer, I frequently sat in classes surrounded by chairs full of men, and was lucky if there was one other token female. \u00a0It made me feel conscious that I was a female because of all the second looks and curious reactions that I would receive from my male colleagues. \u00a0I even started a full time job as a degreed engineer with my male supervisor asking if I \u201cknew how to use a copying machine\u201d and the active assumption that I didn\u2019t know anything. \u00a0It is vital to have both genders in engineering for a more balanced perspective, to prevent gender bias, and for solutions that will help the greater population. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it was clear to me that by it would be difficult to create change in the large American corporate organization I was in- because first I had to break down people\u2019s underlying assumptions and biases, I knew I had to start from the ground level and create changes in education.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I kick off a project with students I start with the goal to \u201cmake the world at least a little bit better\u201d. \u00a0Kids are natural contributors and creators. \u00a0They are looking to contribute to the world and find their place. \u00a0They just need the proper help, tools, time, space and someone to remove the obstacles in their way. \u00a0For the past 7 years I have been teaching kids a combination of design thinking, technology and robotics in the heart of Silicon Valley, having kids create amazing projects.\"thymio<\/span><\/p>\n

I founded <\/span>TechyKids.com<\/span><\/a> to not only have these projects happen in my classroom at <\/span>Woodland School<\/span><\/a>– but to enable others to do the very same thing. \u00a0Four years ago I was a pioneer and began using Thymio because of it’s potential, and have used it as a centerpiece for educating students. \u00a0TechyKids.com serves as a hub to inspire projects of creativity and engineering and helps provide the tools<\/a> and curriculum<\/a> needed to start programs in local schools and communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I heard of this 10 year old girl with her Thymio robot project, her questions, big dreams, and achievement I was thrilled. \u00a0She shares the journey of the students who go through similar struggles and experiences in my classroom. \u00a0I use this special blend of tools and growth mindset to help guide their creativity, learn from failure and ultimately persevere. \u00a0It is quite the magical combination, and it is a rare combination. \u00a0It results in kids straying from what is easy and going towards what is innovative, unproven, and difficult to accomplish. \u00a0The projects become masterpieces with each project being different than the one next to it- reflecting the strengths of each individual contributor and highlighting a team collaboration. \u00a0At the end kids reflect in disbelief in what they have just accomplished with a true sense of pride in their work.<\/span><\/p>\n