IGNITE Winter 2018 | Page 15

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.” 15