Exploring Technical Careers and College, Programming, Engineering Design, Creative Robotics, and all Hands-On STEM Education Strategies
Virginia Tech's DC Metro Area Thinkabit Lab STEM Education and Workforce Development Programs is the longest-serving collaborator in the Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab network. The mission of our Thinkabit Lab is to serve Washington, D.C. area students, teachers, administrators, parents, and collaborators in technical career exploration and the hands-on electronic and programming foundations of IOT and Smart Cities, AI and robotics automation, sensors, actuators, and data collection and analysis.
In doing so, we are preparing our future STEM workforce and our increasingly diverse, technology-driven community for jobs that may not yet exist. The VT-DC STEM Labs team will work with like-minded teams, organizations and individuals interested in promoting curiosity, innovation, creativity, and students’ self-actualization and self-determination.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Urban Alliance at the Urban Institute - Yemina and Jim
Virginia Tech participated in a panel discussion on Thursday, December 7 at the Urban Institute featuring the important work of Urban Alliance. The event was called, "Disruption Proof: Young People, Tech, and the Future of Work" and featured Thinkabit Lab Director Jim Egenrieder and Yemina Riquelme, former Virginia Tech intern from Washington-Lee High School. The panel discussion begins at 15:10.
Friday, December 9, 2016
from the Catholic Herald
Fourth-graders learn hands-on technology at Virginia Tech
12/07/16
If you know what arduinos, servos and breadboards are, you are as smart as the fourth-graders at St. Theresa in Ashburn. Twenty-nine students spent the day Nov. 30 at the Thinkabit Lab on the campus of Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church.
The lab, led by Tech’s Department of engineering education and school of education, is based on coursework by Qualcomm, the maker of semiconductors in San Diego. Qualcomm opened the first lab two years ago in San Francisco and it has helped more than 8,000 students and educators to bridge the gap between what is taught in schools and the STEM skills required in the workplace. The Tech lab opened in September.
“Virginia Tech was actively looking for outreach programs they could participate in and they found the Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab in San Diego,” said Barry Potter, lab manager at Tech. “There are 10 school districts in the area and we target those under-recognized populations like minorities and females in middle and elementary schools.”
First, the students were introduced to possible career choices that utilize STEM skills. They were asked to
Saturday, November 12, 2016
After-hours in the Lab
Our lab operates until 8pm or later most nights, but on Friday evenings, Virginia Tech Transportation Engineering graduate student Mirla Abi Aad takes over and provides Zumba training for VT and UVA graduate students (and others).
Photos by Mirla Abi Aad
Photos by Mirla Abi Aad
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
with Delegate Ken Plum on Comcast
Delegate Ken Plum hosts a weekly television program also available on his YouTube Channel at https://goo.gl/6qz5xG .
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Posptoned until October 17 (Monday)...
Originally scheduled for 8:05pm Sunday night. Look East-Southeast (on Monday).
Friday, October 14, 2016
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Monday, September 26, 2016
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Another AIM Conversation: Girls in STEM Education
Another great conversation produced by Michael Shea of AIM, this time featuring the following:
Temi Adegboye, Computer Science at Howard University;
Brian Moran, President and Founder of Boolean Girls;
Brittany Greer, President and Founder of Rosie Riveters; and
Dayana Hudson, Senior in Computer Science at George Mason University.
Temi Adegboye, Computer Science at Howard University;
Brian Moran, President and Founder of Boolean Girls;
Brittany Greer, President and Founder of Rosie Riveters; and
Dayana Hudson, Senior in Computer Science at George Mason University.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
An Engineering Education Discussion
From Producer Michael Shea at Arlington Independent Media, featuring the following:
Dr. Yaolin Fennell (Engineering Professor at Howard University);
Ms. Susie Armstrong (Sr. VP of Engineering at Qualcomm);
Dr. Elliot Douglas, Program Director for Engineering Education at NSF; and
Ms. Saura Naderi (Qualcomm Thinkabot Instructor).
Dr. Yaolin Fennell (Engineering Professor at Howard University);
Ms. Susie Armstrong (Sr. VP of Engineering at Qualcomm);
Dr. Elliot Douglas, Program Director for Engineering Education at NSF; and
Ms. Saura Naderi (Qualcomm Thinkabot Instructor).
Our Thinkabit Labs
Our Qualcomm-Virginia Tech Thinkabit Labs promote STEM skills and careers to students from upper elementary grades through graduate school.
Our World of Work Lab introduces students ages 10-14 to a growing variety of STEM careers, projected job growth, salary data, and education and certification qualifications.
Our Robocrafting Lab guides students through basic electronic circuits, simple programming of Arduino microcontrollers, introduction of sensors and small motors, and then sets them loose to create robots and programs and integrated arts and crafts.
Programs for high school and undergraduate students can range from technology-focused skills to advanced career exploration, to independent learning through skills-based internships.
Teacher-training and administrator-training takes place through workshops, extended professional development, and/or graduate coursework in integrative STEM education, computer science, education leadership, and a variety of other programs.
Our unusual creative/innovation space is also available to groups looking for an uncommon meeting space and can also be integrated with professor-led workshops or seminars.
Our World of Work Lab introduces students ages 10-14 to a growing variety of STEM careers, projected job growth, salary data, and education and certification qualifications.
Our Robocrafting Lab guides students through basic electronic circuits, simple programming of Arduino microcontrollers, introduction of sensors and small motors, and then sets them loose to create robots and programs and integrated arts and crafts.
Programs for high school and undergraduate students can range from technology-focused skills to advanced career exploration, to independent learning through skills-based internships.
Teacher-training and administrator-training takes place through workshops, extended professional development, and/or graduate coursework in integrative STEM education, computer science, education leadership, and a variety of other programs.
Our unusual creative/innovation space is also available to groups looking for an uncommon meeting space and can also be integrated with professor-led workshops or seminars.
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