Children and digital technology

Children and digital technology

Chances are if you are looking for a camp for your children this summer there are a lot of options around STEM. You can find coding camps, space camp, 3D models, and math camp.  I was surprised to find journals online like The Elementary STEM Journal, Technology and Engineering Teacher journal, and the Journal of Technology Education (JTE).  It is all things technology for educators which in turn is all things STEM for students. For more tenured teachers diving into technology can be challenging.

The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs offers several STEM programs to schools and teachers in the community of Colorado Springs  USAFA is heavily focused on engineering and technology (it is rocket science after all in some cases).  Air Force Cadets connect with classrooms to read a picture book and a kit of materials is provided for a STEM activity. This builds connection with children, provides resources with technology, but possible plants a seed in the kids when think about STEM and the military.

They also provide online opportunities for the Virtual Audience with an Astronaut Sessions.  I know many kids are looking at becoming professional gamers and influencers, but there are still a few that want to be astronauts! This program connects with the Space Foundation to bring six free virtual Audience with an Astronaut sessions to classrooms! This year’s sessions will feature retired General and former NASA Astronaut Susan Helms.  Ms. Helms is amazing and such a great example for kids.  She has both street and space cred. She has flown into space aboard Shuttles Endeavor, Atlantis, Discovery, and Columbia, and has served aboard the International Space Station. She has spent a total of 211 days in space, including establishing a world record for the longest spacewalk at 8 hours and 56 minutes!  Virtual learning and technology make this happen.  The Academy partners with Peak Area Leadership in Science (PALS) and hosts additional STEM modules for Colorado Springs students. 

On the opposite side of the US Norwich University is hosting cyber camps this summer for teachers that want to teach cyber in the Vermont area.  The workshop is  9th - 12th Grade Teachers.  Via a grant it iss free and  helps get materials into the classrooms. They are offer earn 6 credits at the graduate level.  Norwich University is proud to host its first Residential GenCyber Teacher Camp wholly funded by a grant awarded by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation. This week-long residential camp will be held in early Summer 2023. As part of the full GenCyber experience, you will also attend a day-long "CyberTaster" session in Spring 2023.   I appreciate the way the University is digging in to prepare those that teach cyber technology to plant seeds for the future of the organization. Cyber crime and warfare are topics the Department of Defense is actively investing in for the future.

Teachers, schools, politicians, and communities are investing in STEM everything. With a quick search I found just a few examples in 2023.  It does require investment both the families and the schools but it is more and accessible.

Rep. Daniel Kildee, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2023: - $1,000,000 to Sloan Museum of Discovery at the Flint Institute of Science and History to support afterschool programs in STEM education for students.   Recently, Kildee secured $650,000 federal funding to create a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education program for students at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village's (SBEV's) north Flint afterschool center, in coordination with Berston Field House's youth mentoring program for young adults.

Meyer reported to the School Library Journal, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN hosts after school coding clubs at the library at Rose Park School. Undergrads from Code Ignite visit the school for an hour each week to teach kids game design and animation using Scratch (scratch.mit.edu), the simplified programming language designed for kids by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  "It's really exciting to watch the fifth and sixth graders designing their animations or thinking up their games…  they have the tools to go beyond Scratch into a different [programming] language."

America on Tech  provided a grant $230,000 to prepare young people for the technology workforce.  Zonta International is a that help advance the status of women around the world and they offer the Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarships to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in information  technology.

 Digital technology is helping to connect parents with the classroom. As activities become more digital some schools are embracing “Digital documentation provides a quick and convenient way for families (and teachers) to follow children's experiences and growth-not just highlights or end products” (Haney, 2022).  This is an investment for the teacher, school district, and caregivers. Rather than having your refrigerator filled with construction paper handprint turkeys and thumbprint zoo animals, a digital file can be exchanged.  (I hope this never catches on; it is just one more thing for the teach to do rather than teach).

All private and public sector employment opportunities have an aspect of STEM and the competition for raw talent is very high. Everything from corporate sign on bonuses to Military Enlistment bonus.  Kids spend 7-10 hours a day on technology, and it makes sense to create programs that nest into their hobbies.  It presents issues and dangers but everything in moderation.

I am grateful for the digital technology that keeps me connected with my 11-year-old granddaughter and my nieces and nephews.  During the first few months of the pandemic, we would hop on Zoom and connect.  Now, we send messages back and forth and she often will send emoji’s. Since we are separated by three states, we can stay connected. When her parents travel, she stays connected and even checks in on her fur bothers and sisters.  She builds PowerPoints for projects and uses virtual textbooks. I am grateful that she has a pen pal that she writes cursive letters rather than an email.  The evolution of her learning and development continues to advance. 

References

Meyer, L., 2017. Higher Stem. School Library Journal 63 (04) (04): 38.

Kildee Delivers New Federal Funding to Expand Educational Programs in Genesee County. 2023.Targeted News Service, Feb 18.

 Haney, S. 2022. Experiences can't Go Home in Cubbies using Digital Technology and Documentation to Connect with Families. Teaching Young Children, vol. 15, no. 2, 2022, pp. 20-22.