Putting Students in the EdTech Design Seat

Project Name
EdTech Design Challenge: A Collaborative Adventure that Puts Youth into the Design Seat

Project Website
edtechchallenge.cast.org

Project Description

We believe that some of the best solutions for the most pressing educational challenges facing students will come from the students themselves—next generation learning technologies designed by the students who learn differently, not just for them. These students have enormous untapped potential. Given the opportunity to immerse themselves in design thinking, cutting-edge technology and the innovation economy, students can discover new talents and interests beyond the narrow confines and literacies valued in school. Participating youth will gain insights on potential careers in computer science, technology development, engineering, and design.

CAST is partnering with youth and staff at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America in Leominster, MA to design a program incorporating Universal Design for Learning principles that puts high school students squarely in a design role to imagine educational apps that would make the world a better place for learning.

Goals:

• Foster a strength-based mindset in high school youth, who will come away with design process skills, an innovative mindset, and a taste for entrepreneurship
• Connect youth with mentors from creative, design, technical and entrepreneurial fields with similar backgrounds
• Organize and support teams as they develop education applications, bringing their projects from concept into reality through a design thinking and incubator program
• Support a cultural shift through public awareness of the strengths, talents and creativity of these students

Timeline

January 2016 – December 2016

Funder

New Profit

Partner

Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster

Project Leadership

Kim Ducharme

Contact

For more information about this project, please contact Janet Gronneberg.