Pictures from the S.E.E. Event 2013!
Parents, PTAs, Teachers and Principals came to the STAR Resource Station from all around Los Angeles to find out more about everything STAR Education has to offer! Here are some of our favorite pictures from the day…
S.T.E.A.M.Topia!
There was plenty of fun to go around at STAR Education’s 2nd S.T.E.A.M.Topia! Over 150 young innovators showed up for a day of hands-on learning, experimenting, and exploration! Focused on the S.T.E.A.M. disciplines of Science, Technlogy, Engineering, Art, and Math, S.T.E.A.M.Topia is designed to show how S.T.E.A.M. disciplines work together to illuminate principles behind fascinating phenomena in the human experience, and how these subjects are easily applicable in the real world.
Elementary and middle school children were able to test their engineering abilities by designing the car of the future, discover the math behind wilderness survival skills, explore the technology behind artificial intelligence through Turing tests, build a survival dome to withstand the elements, craft high-flying rockets, design 3D forced perspective art, study electric circuitry, and learn the behind-the-scenes of toy making!
Students from the STAR LEGO© Robotics program also competed in the Battle of the Brains! Battle of the Brains is an opportunity for students to battle their Mindstorm sumo-bots that they have spent 12 weeks designing, building, and programming using mechanical engineering, computer programming, special reasoning, teamwork, aesthetic and functional design and other S.T.E.A.M. based skills.
The action didn’t stop there – students also had the opportunity to ride a real hovercraft, experience the science of break-dancing and hula hooping, build at the LEGO© booth, put on a sumo suit to explore the physics behind sumo-wrestling, engage in interactive technology exhibits, and so much more!
The STAR S.T.E.A.M. Initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) has introduced thousands of students to cutting edge and innovative programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. S.T.E.A.M. utilizes specialized, multidisciplinary curricula propelled by problem solving, discovery, and exploratory learning, which encourage students to actively engage in a situation in order to find its solution. STAR S.T.E.A.M. programs aim to engage students to solve real world challenges and ignite their interest in college and future careers. S.T.E.A.M.topia is part of STAR Education’s initiative to support the growing trend in education to stress practical, hands-on, and innovative curricula. STAR is an active member of the S.T.E.M. Education Coalition and is at the forefront of promoting S.T.E.A.M. programs in California.
STAR Education Catches Roller Coaster Mania in New Camp
Roller Coaster Mania is the brain child of STAR’s Department of Education. Headed up by Karen Mowrer, Gina Hendron, and Kerry Chow, the camp will be conducted at California State University Northridge (CSUN) and Six Flags Magic Mountain. The camp runs from July 9-27 and gives low income students the chance to see science and math at work in one of the most exhilarating places imaginable.
STAR’s Assistant Director of Education, Gina Hendron, noted that the need for STEM has become so great because of the stigma that students often place on science and math. “The great aspect of the program is how it takes something that many kids feel stinks – math, and shows them how it is behind something really cool – roller coasters.” Gina also noted that over half of the program is made up by female students, a demographic which is usually low in science and math fields.
LA Kids Train as Jedi Scientists at STAR Education Star Wars Summer Camp
STAR Education has made the jump to light speed this summer with the Jedi-approved Science of Star Wars: Clash with the Dark Side summer camp. From rockets to magnetism, to taking a ride on a real-life hovercraft, our student padawans have been making the connection between the science of our daily world to the realm of imagination seen in the blockbuster movie series.
At IQ-GO Science, the science program at STAR, science is always as fun as it is educational, but this camp was out of this world. Our young Jedi were able to work their bodies and minds as they developed their Force skills in our Jedi agility training program. Lightsaber duels each day finally culminated in an epic struggle with one of our Sith Battle Lords.
The highlight for many was a ride on the STAR hovercraft which brought up images of Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder streaking across the desert landscape. Our kids were able to discover how a Van de Graaff generator accumulates electricity and even recreate a scene from the bizarre alien cantina. Learning the laws of physics and motion allowed our campers to create and launch their own rockets, narrowly avoiding Star Destroyers that were hot on their tail.
Never falling to the Dark side, our campers discovered that like the Force, science is all around us. And though the alien guacamole they made wasn’t as scientific… it was delicious! Check out all the innovative science summer camps we’re offering at www.starcamps.org
STAR Education LEGO and Engineering Staff Attend LEGO© Robotics Workshop at LEGOLAND
On Saturday Feb 25, 2012, STAR Education’s Engineering and LEGO© Departments attended a robotics workshop at LEGOLAND California. Representing STAR Education that day were Raymond Lo, Helen Hua, and Aleksandar Stanisic. The purpose of the workshop was to learn about the advantages of using LEGO© Robotics to teach math, science, and engineering. The workshop was also a great opportunity to learn more about the LEGO© robotics competition, The First LEGO© League (FLL).
Raymond Lo and Helen Hua Head program their robots for a maze run.
The STAR team attended a presentation regarding the future of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education by one of California’s leaders in K-12 science education, Nancy Taylor. The STAR team also attended a First LEGO© League presentation. The FLL presenter, Liz Ables, provided great information regarding the creation and management of FLL teams. In addition to attending the presentations, Raymond, Helen and Alex worked on designing and building robots during the hands-on robotics workshop. They were challenged to build and program a robot to successfully navigate a maze. The attached video shows a few highlights from the STAR team’s maze runs.
STAR Education Staff Team Runs Robot Maze at LEGO Robotics Conference from STAR Education on Vimeo.
The workshop was a great experience for the STAR team and will provide a great launch point for STAR’s future involvement with the First LEGO© League. STAR Education will begin forming student teams and having competitions during the fall of 2012.
STAR Education’s First Annual S.T.E.M.topia!
What happens when brilliant young minds from all over Los Angeles gather to compete in a Battle of the Brains? STAR Education’s First Annual S.T.E.M.topia! This past weekend, at the STAR Education headquarters in Culver City, mini Einsteins, pocket-sized DaVincis, and young Marie Curies assembled to celebrate their united passions in an event focused on S.T.E.M. – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Hosting a S.T.E.M. event has been a dream of STAR’s for years, and 2012 was the year to finally make it a reality. Students enrolled in STAR S.T.E.M. programs were able to test the LEGO© Mindstorm Rovers they’ve spent 12 weeks working on with their teammates. In a space-themed room, with an attentive audience watching in anticipation, the elementary school teams put their preprogrammed robots to the test in a series of complex missions including independent path finding, terrain analysis, and directional sensing.
And that’s not all! Specialty workshops, called S.T.E.M-Shops, were open to the public and available for STAR S.T.E.M. students during the breaks in their competitions. Kids ranging in ages from 5-12 signed up for hands-on S.T.E.M.-Shops such as Roller Coaster Dynamics, iPad Game Design, 3D building using Zome construction tools, LEGO© Robotics – and they even got the opportunity to ride a real hovercraft!
Stay tuned for information on future S.T.E.M. events!
STAR S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs aim to engage students to solve real world challenges and ignite their interest in college and future careers. S.T.E.M.topia is part of STAR Education’s initiative to support the growing trend in education to stress practical, hands-on, and innovative curricula. STAR is an active member of the S.T.E.M. Education Coalition and is at the forefront of promoting S.T.E.M. programs in California.
STAR Kids Help Build Puzzle-Solving Robot!
Have you ever struggled to solve the confounding puzzle that is the Rubik’s Cube? Struggle no more! Students in STAR Education’s LEGO © Robotics program have worked with their teacher, Aleks Stanisic, to explore the possibility of solving the Rubik’s Cube using a LEGO © robot with artificial intelligence.
A STAR LEGO © Robot Analyzes a Rubik's Cube
“The robot analyzes the pattern on the Rubik’s Cube, and then uses an algorithm to determine the fastest way to solve it,” Stanisic explained. “The kids were amazed.”
The LEGO © Robotics program is just one of STAR’s many ongoing efforts to increase student comprehension of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) through engaging, interactive experiences with real-world applications.
If you’re interested in enrolling your child in our LEGO © Robotics program, please contact the head of our Lego Department, Helen Hua, at helenh@starinc.org, or by phone at 310-424-5771.
STAR Takes Technology to the Next Level
The STAR Internal Technology Team and STAR GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) partnered to remodel existing computer labs for use as upgraded Digital Arts and Technology teaching centers at Mar Vista Elementary, Clover Elementary, West Hollywood Elementary and Laurel Elementary. STAR has created an all-around technology service to aid students and teachers in technical support, professional development and programming throughout the year. The shared goal is to create critical thinkers who will be poised to succeed in the 21st century. With the support of the parents, teachers and staff of these schools, STAR continues to make a digital difference.
STAR Connects Kids With Computers!
For more information contact Tery Arnold 310.842.8040 ext.113