Academic development and career preparation
Developing Academic Knowledge
The steam academy seeks to involve youth in STEM by fostering discovery, observation, research, and practical application.
During the STEAM Academy, youth will immerse themselves in the exploration of engineering principles, various engineering design methodologies, computational thinking, design thinking, and research techniques.
STEAM Academy provides young individuals with the chance to participate in our global initiative, facilitating interactions with peers from Latin American countries who are also involved in the academic program remotely.
Exploring
Internet of Things
Spring 2025
ou will learn about the Arduino IoT Cloud Platform to build Internet of Things (IoT) applications and projects that seamlessly connect to the cloud. The course covers various cloud plans and the hardware features for the new Arduino UNO R4 Wi-Fi. The course includes creating an IoT project using buttons, LEDs, analog devices, and temperature sensors. A custom graphical dashboard will display and control these peripherals. The graphical controls are accessible by web pages, smartphones, or voice commands from Alexa.
This course aligns as an introduction to our dual enrollment course, CS - 349
Engineerin Design
Youth will engage in a series of steps that engineers use to create functional products and processes.
Research Science Methods
Youth will grasp the scientific method through its four fundamental components, starting with the basic observation and description of a phenomenon. These observations will prompt inquiries regarding specific occurrences, followed by the formulation of a hypothesis or prediction. Ultimately, they will engage in particular experiments designed to validate or refute the prediction.
Computational Thinking
Youth will comprehend the methodology through which they can creatively implement the four-step problem-solving cycle to address ideas, challenges, and opportunities they face in order to formulate and evaluate solutions. The focus is on learning how to translate real-life scenarios into abstract concepts—often suitable for programming—so that a computer can compute the solution.
Design Thinking
Youth will participate in the execution of a practical, user-focused methodology for addressing challenges, which has the potential to foster innovation. This practical, user-focused methodology is characterized by the stages of empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, testing, and implementing.
NSF STEM PUSH Network
Youth will engage in activities designed to enhance the quality of the program, ensuring that the perspectives of participants are incorporated, and they will receive services that have been nationally recognized for their effectiveness.