[Applause] artist and engineer princess and
artist and engineer princess and
artist and engineer princess and scientist musician and mathematician
scientist musician and mathematician
scientist musician and mathematician when people first hear these words they
when people first hear these words they
when people first hear these words they express wonder artist and engineer those
express wonder artist and engineer those
express wonder artist and engineer those are usually on opposite sides of the
are usually on opposite sides of the
are usually on opposite sides of the spectrum last summer my sister and I
spectrum last summer my sister and I
spectrum last summer my sister and I were walking along the pier and we saw
were walking along the pier and we saw
were walking along the pier and we saw this energetic little girl running along
this energetic little girl running along
this energetic little girl running along the beach
the beach
the beach her t-shirt stood out to us it said
her t-shirt stood out to us it said
her t-shirt stood out to us it said forget princess I want to be an
forget princess I want to be an
forget princess I want to be an astrophysicist at first glance we were
astrophysicist at first glance we were
astrophysicist at first glance we were like heck yeah girl power but at the
like heck yeah girl power but at the
like heck yeah girl power but at the same time we had this odd nagging
same time we had this odd nagging
same time we had this odd nagging feeling why must a little girl have to
feeling why must a little girl have to
feeling why must a little girl have to choose between two things could a child
choose between two things could a child
choose between two things could a child not be both good children not love to
not be both good children not love to
not be both good children not love to play dress up be artsy and love the
play dress up be artsy and love the
play dress up be artsy and love the sciences as engineers we can say from
sciences as engineers we can say from
sciences as engineers we can say from personal experience that engineering is
personal experience that engineering is
personal experience that engineering is not just about numbers and experiments
not just about numbers and experiments
not just about numbers and experiments there is an art to being an engineer so
there is an art to being an engineer so
there is an art to being an engineer so why is it that we try and push our
why is it that we try and push our
why is it that we try and push our children into one field or another why
children into one field or another why
children into one field or another why can’t the little girl grow up loving
can’t the little girl grow up loving
can’t the little girl grow up loving arts theater and the tech fields why
arts theater and the tech fields why
arts theater and the tech fields why can’t I see I love dressing up to be a
can’t I see I love dressing up to be a
can’t I see I love dressing up to be a princess and building bridges instead of
princess and building bridges instead of
princess and building bridges instead of following a binary system we should be
following a binary system we should be
following a binary system we should be encouraging our younger generation to
encouraging our younger generation to
encouraging our younger generation to explore how subjects intersect because
explore how subjects intersect because
explore how subjects intersect because yes the lines do blur and that makes
yes the lines do blur and that makes
yes the lines do blur and that makes education all the more powerful we need
education all the more powerful we need
education all the more powerful we need to find a way to harness this power
to find a way to harness this power
to find a way to harness this power through a comprehensive learning
through a comprehensive learning
through a comprehensive learning experience students shouldn’t have to
experience students shouldn’t have to
experience students shouldn’t have to fit into one box or fit into one
fit into one box or fit into one
fit into one box or fit into one category because yes you can be an
category because yes you can be an
category because yes you can be an artist and an engineer the two are not
artist and an engineer the two are not
artist and an engineer the two are not mutually exclusive the idea of real
mutually exclusive the idea of real
mutually exclusive the idea of real meaningful learning is something my
meaningful learning is something my
meaningful learning is something my sister and I have been exploring for
sister and I have been exploring for
sister and I have been exploring for years it started off with us we didn’t
years it started off with us we didn’t
years it started off with us we didn’t love math and science in the classroom
love math and science in the classroom
love math and science in the classroom but what we did enjoy was tinkering we
but what we did enjoy was tinkering we
but what we did enjoy was tinkering we love to build things and take stuff
love to build things and take stuff
love to build things and take stuff apart fast forward to the present and we
apart fast forward to the present and we
apart fast forward to the present and we now live and breathe our passion for
now live and breathe our passion for
now live and breathe our passion for hands-on learning by running a company
hands-on learning by running a company
hands-on learning by running a company that focuses on k12
that focuses on k12
that focuses on k12 education the word stem or science
education the word stem or science
education the word stem or science technology engineering and mathematics
technology engineering and mathematics
technology engineering and mathematics has picked up momentum in the last
has picked up momentum in the last
has picked up momentum in the last couple of years this buzzword can now be
couple of years this buzzword can now be
couple of years this buzzword can now be heard throughout the country and world
heard throughout the country and world
heard throughout the country and world now don’t get us wrong we definitely
now don’t get us wrong we definitely
now don’t get us wrong we definitely believe that STEM education is important
believe that STEM education is important
believe that STEM education is important however there are parts of this that we
however there are parts of this that we
however there are parts of this that we believe are being lost in this frenzy to
believe are being lost in this frenzy to
believe are being lost in this frenzy to get our kids coding and building
get our kids coding and building
get our kids coding and building consider the students spell of music our
consider the students spell of music our
consider the students spell of music our history and communication if they have a
history and communication if they have a
history and communication if they have a passion for a certain field
passion for a certain field
passion for a certain field how can STEM education apply to them the
how can STEM education apply to them the
how can STEM education apply to them the easy answer is to simply say well tech
easy answer is to simply say well tech
easy answer is to simply say well tech is all around us
is all around us
is all around us or if you go into a stem field you’ll
or if you go into a stem field you’ll
or if you go into a stem field you’ll get a better job but take a closer look
get a better job but take a closer look
get a better job but take a closer look at the world yes we live in a tech
at the world yes we live in a tech
at the world yes we live in a tech driven generation if there are aspects
driven generation if there are aspects
driven generation if there are aspects of business engineering design
of business engineering design
of business engineering design humanities all woven in together so the
humanities all woven in together so the
humanities all woven in together so the real question becomes why is STEM
real question becomes why is STEM
real question becomes why is STEM education meaningful and how can I
education meaningful and how can I
education meaningful and how can I relate to a student regardless of the
relate to a student regardless of the
relate to a student regardless of the field they pursue we’ve worked with
field they pursue we’ve worked with
field they pursue we’ve worked with thousands of children across California
thousands of children across California
thousands of children across California some as young as four years old and
some as young as four years old and
some as young as four years old and others graduating from high school
others graduating from high school
others graduating from high school throughout all ages our focus and
throughout all ages our focus and
throughout all ages our focus and mission is consistent it is not about
mission is consistent it is not about
mission is consistent it is not about creating engineers and programmers out
creating engineers and programmers out
creating engineers and programmers out of everyone instead we want to get kids
of everyone instead we want to get kids
of everyone instead we want to get kids excited to learn try new things and
excited to learn try new things and
excited to learn try new things and develop and I can figure it out attitude
develop and I can figure it out attitude
develop and I can figure it out attitude by encouraging them to design build code
by encouraging them to design build code
by encouraging them to design build code and make mistakes they are learning to
and make mistakes they are learning to
and make mistakes they are learning to be curious
be curious
be curious rather than apprehensive about the
rather than apprehensive about the
rather than apprehensive about the unknown in our increasingly more tech
unknown in our increasingly more tech
unknown in our increasingly more tech dependent consumers society having a
dependent consumers society having a
dependent consumers society having a basic foundation of how things work is
basic foundation of how things work is
basic foundation of how things work is more vital than ever before we wanted to
more vital than ever before we wanted to
more vital than ever before we wanted to share a quote from astrophysicist Carl
share a quote from astrophysicist Carl
share a quote from astrophysicist Carl Sagan we’ve arranged a global
Sagan we’ve arranged a global
Sagan we’ve arranged a global civilization in which most crucial
civilization in which most crucial
civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science
elements profoundly depend on science
elements profoundly depend on science and technology we have also arranged
and technology we have also arranged
and technology we have also arranged things so that almost no one understands
things so that almost no one understands
things so that almost no one understands science and technology this is a
science and technology this is a
science and technology this is a prescription for disaster
prescription for disaster
prescription for disaster we might get away with it for a while
we might get away with it for a while
we might get away with it for a while but sooner or later this combustible
but sooner or later this combustible
but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going
mixture of ignorance and power is going
mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our
to blow up in our
to blow up in our cases doctor Sagan’s words are blunt but
cases doctor Sagan’s words are blunt but
cases doctor Sagan’s words are blunt but truthful we’ve set up our world in such
truthful we’ve set up our world in such
truthful we’ve set up our world in such a way that only a small percentage of
a way that only a small percentage of
a way that only a small percentage of people really understand it it seems
people really understand it it seems
people really understand it it seems almost comical that people everyday use
almost comical that people everyday use
almost comical that people everyday use technology in the forms of cell phones
technology in the forms of cell phones
technology in the forms of cell phones cars internet electricity without even
cars internet electricity without even
cars internet electricity without even considering the basic elements of how
considering the basic elements of how
considering the basic elements of how things work and the reality is tech is
things work and the reality is tech is
things work and the reality is tech is only going to become a larger part of
only going to become a larger part of
only going to become a larger part of our lives
our lives
our lives so rather than push students into one
so rather than push students into one
so rather than push students into one category or another we must find a way
category or another we must find a way
category or another we must find a way to help them find the intersections of
to help them find the intersections of
to help them find the intersections of STEM education we must therefore shed
STEM education we must therefore shed
STEM education we must therefore shed our old system of learning to allow our
our old system of learning to allow our
our old system of learning to allow our children to thrive in the future let’s
children to thrive in the future let’s
children to thrive in the future let’s take a look at the benefits of STEM
take a look at the benefits of STEM
take a look at the benefits of STEM education and it’s lasting impacts one a
education and it’s lasting impacts one a
education and it’s lasting impacts one a basic foundation of how things work you
basic foundation of how things work you
basic foundation of how things work you don’t have to be an expert in everything
don’t have to be an expert in everything
don’t have to be an expert in everything but having a fundamental knowledge of
but having a fundamental knowledge of
but having a fundamental knowledge of how things work can only help to the
how things work can only help to the
how things work can only help to the dreamers and creators inspiring the next
dreamers and creators inspiring the next
dreamers and creators inspiring the next inventors of our society to come up with
inventors of our society to come up with
inventors of our society to come up with scientific breakthroughs more efficient
scientific breakthroughs more efficient
scientific breakthroughs more efficient technology cleaner energy usage and so
technology cleaner energy usage and so
technology cleaner energy usage and so much more and 3 the life’s go these are
much more and 3 the life’s go these are
much more and 3 the life’s go these are the skills that will stay with you for
the skills that will stay with you for
the skills that will stay with you for the rest of your life no matter what
the rest of your life no matter what
the rest of your life no matter what critical thinking creativity confidence
critical thinking creativity confidence
critical thinking creativity confidence the design process attitude and a
the design process attitude and a
the design process attitude and a lifelong love for learning no matter
lifelong love for learning no matter
lifelong love for learning no matter what children grow up to become these
what children grow up to become these
what children grow up to become these skills are transferable these are life
skills are transferable these are life
skills are transferable these are life skills this importance of meaningful
skills this importance of meaningful
skills this importance of meaningful hands-on STEM education has taken us
hands-on STEM education has taken us
hands-on STEM education has taken us years to fully comprehend we learned
years to fully comprehend we learned
years to fully comprehend we learned most of this there are own learn by
most of this there are own learn by
most of this there are own learn by doing process and interactions with our
doing process and interactions with our
doing process and interactions with our students we thought we’d share a couple
students we thought we’d share a couple
students we thought we’d share a couple of our favorite standout discussion the
of our favorite standout discussion the
of our favorite standout discussion the first one is about Michael a fourth
first one is about Michael a fourth
first one is about Michael a fourth grader Michael started with us two years
grader Michael started with us two years
grader Michael started with us two years ago entering our center with an
ago entering our center with an
ago entering our center with an enthusiasm for cars and BattleBots
enthusiasm for cars and BattleBots
enthusiasm for cars and BattleBots over the last couple of years his
over the last couple of years his
over the last couple of years his interests have shifted from BattleBots
interests have shifted from BattleBots
interests have shifted from BattleBots to 3d modeling to most recently
to 3d modeling to most recently
to 3d modeling to most recently renewable energy it started out with
renewable energy it started out with
renewable energy it started out with simple solar panel designs but then
simple solar panel designs but then
simple solar panel designs but then expanded to include solar cars wind
expanded to include solar cars wind
expanded to include solar cars wind turbines and charging stations it’s on
turbines and charging stations it’s on
turbines and charging stations it’s on the last day of his course Michael asked
the last day of his course Michael asked
the last day of his course Michael asked surprised me by asking Miss Lavanya can
surprised me by asking Miss Lavanya can
surprised me by asking Miss Lavanya can I please have two more days to work on
I please have two more days to work on
I please have two more days to work on this project I have this idea and I
this project I have this idea and I
this project I have this idea and I really want to try it out I had no idea
really want to try it out I had no idea
really want to try it out I had no idea what he was talking about but within
what he was talking about but within
what he was talking about but within moments he had whipped out his
moments he had whipped out his
moments he had whipped out his engineering notebook and was telling me
engineering notebook and was telling me
engineering notebook and was telling me all about this detailed plan he had over
all about this detailed plan he had over
all about this detailed plan he had over the next couple of classes Michael
the next couple of classes Michael
the next couple of classes Michael created his own unique motorcycle
created his own unique motorcycle
created his own unique motorcycle powered using capacitors and a dual
powered using capacitors and a dual
powered using capacitors and a dual solar panel charging station it’s not
solar panel charging station it’s not
solar panel charging station it’s not every day that a fourth grader takes an
every day that a fourth grader takes an
every day that a fourth grader takes an idea and then decides he wants to make a
idea and then decides he wants to make a
idea and then decides he wants to make a renewable motorcycle vehicle and now
renewable motorcycle vehicle and now
renewable motorcycle vehicle and now every time Michael comes into class he
every time Michael comes into class he
every time Michael comes into class he talks about his future company one that
talks about his future company one that
talks about his future company one that will focus on environmentally friendly
will focus on environmentally friendly
will focus on environmentally friendly vehicle designs this next story is one
vehicle designs this next story is one
vehicle designs this next story is one of our favorites Stanley is just eight
of our favorites Stanley is just eight
of our favorites Stanley is just eight years old and he’s ready to take on the
years old and he’s ready to take on the
years old and he’s ready to take on the world
world
world he’s currently learning to build robots
he’s currently learning to build robots
he’s currently learning to build robots using data wire sensors and renewable
using data wire sensors and renewable
using data wire sensors and renewable materials he’s currently working on a
materials he’s currently working on a
materials he’s currently working on a wind turbine and I found him working
wind turbine and I found him working
wind turbine and I found him working hard to orient his wind turbine blades
hard to orient his wind turbine blades
hard to orient his wind turbine blades perfectly they brought out a protractor
perfectly they brought out a protractor
perfectly they brought out a protractor and I gave it to him and I asked him
and I gave it to him and I asked him
and I gave it to him and I asked him what he thought it was he didn’t know
what he thought it was he didn’t know
what he thought it was he didn’t know he’d never seen one before we went back
he’d never seen one before we went back
he’d never seen one before we went back and forth for a bit until he found out
and forth for a bit until he found out
and forth for a bit until he found out what degrees were and how to measure
what degrees were and how to measure
what degrees were and how to measure them at the end of the day I read his
them at the end of the day I read his
them at the end of the day I read his summary and it said today I was stumped
summary and it said today I was stumped
summary and it said today I was stumped and it was awesome I didn’t know what
and it was awesome I didn’t know what
and it was awesome I didn’t know what that piece was but finally I learned
that piece was but finally I learned
that piece was but finally I learned about a protractor and angles I can’t
about a protractor and angles I can’t
about a protractor and angles I can’t wait to tell my mom I was stumped today
wait to tell my mom I was stumped today
wait to tell my mom I was stumped today that attitude the desire to learn even
that attitude the desire to learn even
that attitude the desire to learn even when the answer is unknown the
when the answer is unknown the
when the answer is unknown the enthusiasm to be lost and celebrate that
enthusiasm to be lost and celebrate that
enthusiasm to be lost and celebrate that moment of confusion that then translates
moment of confusion that then translates
moment of confusion that then translates to confidence and joy at the moment of
to confidence and joy at the moment of
to confidence and joy at the moment of discovery on top of all of that
discovery on top of all of that
discovery on top of all of that Stanley an 8 year old loves protractors
Stanley an 8 year old loves protractors
Stanley an 8 year old loves protractors and he knows how they can be useful in
and he knows how they can be useful in
and he knows how they can be useful in real life these last couple of stories
real life these last couple of stories
real life these last couple of stories are a combination of some of the
are a combination of some of the
are a combination of some of the fabulous young women we’ve worked with
fabulous young women we’ve worked with
fabulous young women we’ve worked with Victoria and Sophia two sisters
Victoria and Sophia two sisters
Victoria and Sophia two sisters used to come into our class every week
used to come into our class every week
used to come into our class every week carrying their favorite book Harry
carrying their favorite book Harry
carrying their favorite book Harry Potter when they first began robotics
Potter when they first began robotics
Potter when they first began robotics all they could talk about was how they
all they could talk about was how they
all they could talk about was how they wanted to create something magical the
wanted to create something magical the
wanted to create something magical the girls began an electronics class where
girls began an electronics class where
girls began an electronics class where they learned to light up LEDs play
they learned to light up LEDs play
they learned to light up LEDs play sounds and move motors and they loved
sounds and move motors and they loved
sounds and move motors and they loved what they did but at the same time we’re
what they did but at the same time we’re
what they did but at the same time we’re still trying to find a way to combine
still trying to find a way to combine
still trying to find a way to combine their passion for reading with their
their passion for reading with their
their passion for reading with their newfound tech skills after a month of
newfound tech skills after a month of
newfound tech skills after a month of working on their final project they
working on their final project they
working on their final project they showcased truly incredible creations the
showcased truly incredible creations the
showcased truly incredible creations the Hufflepuff cup and Hogwarts castle both
Hufflepuff cup and Hogwarts castle both
Hufflepuff cup and Hogwarts castle both were programmed to light up in different
were programmed to light up in different
were programmed to light up in different colors and rotate using servos Victoria
colors and rotate using servos Victoria
colors and rotate using servos Victoria and Sofia expanded their favorite series
and Sofia expanded their favorite series
and Sofia expanded their favorite series into a real and magical creation one
into a real and magical creation one
into a real and magical creation one that combined technical skills with
that combined technical skills with
that combined technical skills with artistic design technology gave them the
artistic design technology gave them the
artistic design technology gave them the power to express themselves but it was
power to express themselves but it was
power to express themselves but it was their love for literature that first
their love for literature that first
their love for literature that first inspired their entire design our final
inspired their entire design our final
inspired their entire design our final story is about a student who didn’t
story is about a student who didn’t
story is about a student who didn’t originally want to be a student at our
originally want to be a student at our
originally want to be a student at our Center at all Talia is an artist who
Center at all Talia is an artist who
Center at all Talia is an artist who sketches and doodles at any chance she
sketches and doodles at any chance she
sketches and doodles at any chance she guess she didn’t like the idea of stem
guess she didn’t like the idea of stem
guess she didn’t like the idea of stem anything but ended up getting started
anything but ended up getting started
anything but ended up getting started with us because her two sisters were
with us because her two sisters were
with us because her two sisters were already there after several sessions
already there after several sessions
already there after several sessions Talia found that her preconceived
Talia found that her preconceived
Talia found that her preconceived notions of stem were not all true her
notions of stem were not all true her
notions of stem were not all true her stem activities weren’t as scary or as
stem activities weren’t as scary or as
stem activities weren’t as scary or as hard or as boring as any shot as she
hard or as boring as any shot as she
hard or as boring as any shot as she thought they would be with every class
thought they would be with every class
thought they would be with every class Talia’s confidence grows she’s currently
Talia’s confidence grows she’s currently
Talia’s confidence grows she’s currently learning to integrate her love for
learning to integrate her love for
learning to integrate her love for design into technology this fifth-grade
design into technology this fifth-grade
design into technology this fifth-grade girl now has taken her piano skills to
girl now has taken her piano skills to
girl now has taken her piano skills to the next level by integrating music with
the next level by integrating music with
the next level by integrating music with her own uniquely designed code she’s
her own uniquely designed code she’s
her own uniquely designed code she’s taking her drawing skills a step further
taking her drawing skills a step further
taking her drawing skills a step further by sketching out elaborate beautiful
by sketching out elaborate beautiful
by sketching out elaborate beautiful circuits and then adding conductive
circuits and then adding conductive
circuits and then adding conductive materials to bring them to life
materials to bring them to life
materials to bring them to life Talia embodies the artist and the
Talia embodies the artist and the
Talia embodies the artist and the engineer the wonderful part is that
engineer the wonderful part is that
engineer the wonderful part is that Stanley Talia Michael Victoria and
Stanley Talia Michael Victoria and
Stanley Talia Michael Victoria and Sophia are not quite sure what they want
Sophia are not quite sure what they want
Sophia are not quite sure what they want to be when they grow up but they are
to be when they grow up but they are
to be when they grow up but they are excite
excite
excite to pursue new projects and use stem
to pursue new projects and use stem
to pursue new projects and use stem practices with their identity and these
practices with their identity and these
practices with their identity and these are just a couple of the stories that we
are just a couple of the stories that we
are just a couple of the stories that we witness on a daily basis these are the
witness on a daily basis these are the
witness on a daily basis these are the experiences that have led us to the
experiences that have led us to the
experiences that have led us to the roots of STEM education the benefits of
roots of STEM education the benefits of
roots of STEM education the benefits of stem ed are clear creativity critical
stem ed are clear creativity critical
stem ed are clear creativity critical thinking attitude these are applicable
thinking attitude these are applicable
thinking attitude these are applicable to all careers jobs than every facet of
to all careers jobs than every facet of
to all careers jobs than every facet of life dem education is truly the roots of
life dem education is truly the roots of
life dem education is truly the roots of our society but it’s the branches that
our society but it’s the branches that
our society but it’s the branches that grow from hands-on education that allow
grow from hands-on education that allow
grow from hands-on education that allow us to dream bigger and be better imagine
us to dream bigger and be better imagine
us to dream bigger and be better imagine how these roots when developed can
how these roots when developed can
how these roots when developed can positively affect people in engineering
positively affect people in engineering
positively affect people in engineering law business and politics we must step
law business and politics we must step
law business and politics we must step away from this idea that stem is meant
away from this idea that stem is meant
away from this idea that stem is meant to make engineers and coders out of
to make engineers and coders out of
to make engineers and coders out of everyone instead broaden your
everyone instead broaden your
everyone instead broaden your perspective to consider how critical
perspective to consider how critical
perspective to consider how critical thinking and a confidence in this tech
thinking and a confidence in this tech
thinking and a confidence in this tech world can lead to greater inventions and
world can lead to greater inventions and
world can lead to greater inventions and collaborations among teams before we
collaborations among teams before we
collaborations among teams before we leave the stage we’d like to leave you
leave the stage we’d like to leave you
leave the stage we’d like to leave you with this imagine a world where you
with this imagine a world where you
with this imagine a world where you aren’t afraid to try new things and
aren’t afraid to try new things and
aren’t afraid to try new things and wander into uncharted territories a
wander into uncharted territories a
wander into uncharted territories a world where you know how the technology
world where you know how the technology
world where you know how the technology around you works a world where creative
around you works a world where creative
around you works a world where creative solutions and a positive attitude are
solutions and a positive attitude are
solutions and a positive attitude are not just valued but expected that’s the
not just valued but expected that’s the
not just valued but expected that’s the world we envision thank you
”
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