Technology lessons on the move

A new learning tool takes field trips to kids.

Discover Technology — a giant bus — gives students a hands-on learning experience in the parking lot. The bus is full of robots, experiments and technology that entertain and educate.

P1000859“This is a great way to add more STEM education in the valley,” said Meridian schools superintendent Linda Clark, referring to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “We’re very excited about this partnership.”

Discover Technology has been busing education around North Idaho for two years. A second bus, unveiled on Monday, will service the Treasure Valley.

“It’s a mobile lab,” said Discover Technology projects manager Chad Houck, who was introduced at a Monday press conference by a robot named Beta (pictured below).

How it works

The bus pulls into a school parking lot for a full-day learning experience. The day begins with a 45-minute, school-wide assembly complete with a talking robot. Following the assembly, classes tour the bus. Each student spends about 30 minutes on the bus touching and moving a variety of science experiments. The assemblies and programs are customized, depending on the grade and skill level of the students.

P1000860Discover Technology is spending a full day at a Meridian elementary school this week, along with a charter school and a home-school co-op.

Discover Technology also offers summer camps.

Disclaimer: Discover Technology and Idaho Education News are both funded by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.

P1000858
Beta, far right, conducts a press conference.

 

 

 

Jennifer Swindell

Jennifer Swindell

Managing editor and CEO Jennifer Swindell founded Idaho Education News in 2013. She has led the online news platform as it has grown in readership and engagement every year, reaching over one million pageviews in 2019. Jennifer has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. She also has served as a public information officer for Idaho schools and as a communication director at Boise State University. She can be reached at [email protected].

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