This September, The EdVenture Group and EQT traveled to two rural Pennsylvania elementary schools (West Greene Elementary Center and Bobtown Elementary) to implement the EQT STEM Days program. Funded by the EQT Foundation, this program provided over 300 students in grades 3-6 an opportunity to experience hands-on learning via a station-rotation model. Students engaged in subjects like design thinking and making, computer science and robotics, and STEM career exploration.

During the Computer Science and Robotics Station, students explored algorithmic thinking and block-based coding. The station introduced students to Sphero robotics, an app-enabled gyrosphere that can be coded to move, change color, make sound, and more. Students were given challenge activities, culminating in the completion of a maze challenge – with many groups succeeding!

The Makerspace Station provided students a hands-on opportunity to tinker and problem solve. Using a design thinking framework, students were given a stakeholder group (parents, community, teachers, etc.) and tasked with identifying a problem, developing an idea, and prototyping a solution. Both students and teachers learned a new way to identify, frame, and tackle problems.