A RARE OPPORTUNITY CURIOSITY, NOT QUIZZES
While emerging technologies like 3D printing and virtual
reality are prevalent in the headlines, they are often
cost prohibitive for students — and schools. St. Katharine of Siena’s UIF mentors — Jon Rodriguez,
AJ Santos, and Shemar Coombs — bring a collective
expertise across a range of subjects including mechanical
engineering, bioengineering, computer science, game
development, and business management.
The UIF Technology Mentoring program lets
participants try out tools they may otherwise only see
on YouTube.
“I thought virtual reality headsets were really cool, and
I wanted to get one, but then I realized how expensive
they are,” says 8th grader James Manion.
“It’s awesome that with UIF, we
have the ability to try them out in a
way that we would never be able to
at home,” Manion explains.
In a typical session, two or three mentors give a brief
presentation covering the basics of the lesson. Then
students are set free to explore programs like MakerBot
and Tinkercad, asking questions as they go.
Elisio says these sessions have reinforced students’
understanding of math concepts. Participants can see,
for example, how adjusting the angles of their designs
by just a few degrees will impact their printed products.
She admits that she’s benefited from the lessons
as well.
“I am learning just as much as the students are in
these sessions,” Elisio says. “It has been really great to
learn about the new technologies and their real-world
applications.”
While student comprehension is important, the
instructors say their main focus is encouraging
participants to push boundaries by thinking outside
the box.
“We try to keep the lesson part of the program to a
minimum by giving students the opportunity to work
hands-on with the technology,” Rodriguez, Santos, and
Coombs said in an email. “When students are curious and
inquisitive, they ask more questions, learn more, and have
fun all at the same time.”
One of the first tasks the mentors assign is designing a
product the students want to print. The mentors then ask
students to redesign it, transforming the idea from 2D to
3D. It’s the first step in encouraging students to look at
objects — and challenges — from a new perspective.
St. Katharine of Siena principal Bud Tosti says this
approach supports the school’s mission to develop the
whole child.
“We’re committed to preparing our
students for a future the world can’t
even begin to fathom,” Tosti says.
“And programs like UIF Technology
Mentoring Program help us do that
in an engaging way.”
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