DaVinci Maker Labs
Training educators to teach STEM projects
Location: U.S. (Houston, TX)
Sponsor: James Lavin
Davinci Maker Labs: A first-time grantee in 2020
DaVinci is a unique learning center, devoted to introducing youth of all ages to STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). Its mission is to make the high tech world of aerospace, robotics, electronics and manufacturing accessible to students and teachers in low socio-economic areas who otherwise may never be exposed to these fields. A significant library of curriculum complements the high tech equipment that they have in their maker lab. DaVinci has advanced manufacturing, testing, and learning tools that are used to engage students and encourage them to pursue higher education and/or careers in these fields.
Through very carefully constructed programs, DaVinci seeks to not only build new skills among students but also help them gain self-confidence and higher self-esteem. They believe that when a person can create something from nothing and put their name on it, it changes their world and has a similar impact on others around them. With new skills and this mindset, DaVinci has seen its students go on to build more successful futures.
Their mentoring program has reached thousands of students. To complement those efforts, DaVinci is now focusing on building the skill set of educators as well so they are better prepared to teach students about the STEM fields.
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GRANT SUMMARY AND PURPOSE
2020: $30,000 will fund the ’Reach for the Stars’ program to provide training to teachers on STEM topics so they can serve more students, specifically in disadvantaged areas. The training will take place in DaVinci’s makerspace location. The first cohort of 25 teachers will return to their classrooms with hardware and computer support to teach a number of well-defined STEM topics to their students. Teachers will get a stipend of $100 at the start of their DaVinci training and another $100 stipend when they complete the training of their students. Teachers will also meet continuing education requirements with this program.
IMPACT
Educate the educators (25 teachers) so they can deliver more impactful lessons to their students and accelerate the reach of DaVinci programs.