Innovation Institute
A nearly decade-long initiative at the New York Hall of Science developed and refined a model for guiding local high school students through the process of community research, design and invention. Over a 15-month period each year, participants made observations in their local neighborhoods, identified and defined problems or vulnerabilities, and designed and prototyped solutions. Participants have designed software, invented new sensing systems, engineered technologies, and presented their work to STEM experts, all while learning about science, engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship. Support was provided by the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the JPB foundation.
I2: From Problem to Product
Innovation Institute: From Problem to Product (I2) takes high school students through the entire process of inventing a device, software or other technology. This proposal makes use of a Makerspace at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), which is located in a community with a high proportion of both immigrant and low-income residents. I2 builds on NYSCI experience with the Maker movement and leverages its Explainer program (where high school students who work as exhibit or program facilitators) by providing: 1) a product prototype/design program for high school Explainers and 2) after school and Saturday activities for middle school students, with mentoring provided by the Explainers.
Empowering Environmental Resilience Through Community Design
This program brought youth from Corona, Queens together with researchers, educators from the New York Hall of Science to explore how to build more resilient communities through a co-design process. During this process students were able to create actionable plans for addressing neighborhood problems, articulate complex ideas relating to resilience and sustainability, and demonstrate their new knowledge. The outcome was prototypes for public experiences that would empower community members to identify vulnerabilities and ways to address them. A curriculum guide based on the project is available here. It provides an overview of the program and includes sample activities, lessons learned, and reflections from facilitators and participants. This project was made possible through support from the JPB Foundation.
I2: Making A Difference
An intensive year-long mentored computational making experience for underserved first-generation immigrant secondary school students in which they ideate develop and test solutions to community-based problems. The goal of the program is to create invitations into using creativity, social entrepreneurship, and the cultural funds of knowledge students bring to identifying and addressing urgent, personally meaningful, problems in vulnerable communities. Along the way students learn valuable life, career, and teamwork skills, while empowering student design teams with a variety of cognitive and computational making tools. Partners included the Internationals Network of Public Schools and Rockman, et al Cooperative. Support was provided by the National Science Foundation
