January 31, 2020
The Viterbi K-12 STEM Center’s Mission is to inspire, inform, and impact underrepresented, underserved, and disadvantaged PreK-12 students to develop STEM identity and to increase lifelong participation in STEM by providing community-oriented and research-based educational opportunities.
During the semester, we offer students opportunities to volunteer in various programs at our school sites:
- In VSS STEM Clubs, USC student instructors and school teachers develop and plan hands-on/minds-on STEM activities at the school site. Volunteers will help with activities. The USC student instructor will gather the materials, communicate with the volunteers. about each week’s activity. During some weeks, the volunteer will lead the activity with the teacher
- In the Coding Academy Teacher PD, USC student instructors help middle school teachers develop coding lessons that they can integrate in their classroom. For example, students would learn how to write a program that quizzes them on converting fractions. The USC students teach the coding concept to the teacher, and help the teacher to write lessons that they can use in class. Volunteers are needed to work one-on-one with teachers to learn the coding concepts.
- In the Coding Academy Classroom Visits, USC student instructors help facilitate the lessons created by the teachers in the Coding Academy Teacher PD. Volunteers are needed to assist middle school students while the teacher is leading the lesson.
- In the VSS School-Wide STEM Carnivals, hundreds of students descend upon a common area at the school to experience different types of STEM activities. Typically, students rotate through 2 to 3-45 minute activities. USC Student instructors will select the lessons, and prepare the materials
- In the VSS School-Wide PD, USC student instructors help elementary, middle or high school teachers understand how to apply the Next Generation Science Standards in their STEM Courses. First their is an overall presentation on the NGSS. Then, teachers develop NGSS alined lessons that they can use in their classrooms. The USC students teach the coding concept to the teacher, and help the teacher to write lessons that they can use in class. Volunteers are needed to work one-on-one with teachers to learn the coding concepts.
- In the VSS School-Wide Classroom Visits, USC student instructors help facilitate the lessons created by the teachers in the VSSP School-WideTeacher PD. Volunteers are needed to assist students while the teacher is leading the lesson.
- In the VSS MakerSpace Design, USC student instructors work with teachers and students to design a MakerSpace. USC student instructors will discuss ideas with students, design MakerSpace activities with materials on hand, make recommendations for new materials and equipment. When the new materials and equipment arrive, USC students will design activities and train students on how to use them.Volunteers are needed to help with the design of activities. Students will be working in groups on various projects.
If you are interested supporting our K-12 STEM Center schools, please sign up here or check us out on the Experience Viterbi App
Published on January 31st, 2020
Last updated on April 8th, 2021