STEMentors StartNStop eLearning Video Program provides afterschool programs with high-quality educational experiences focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). These STEM-related experiences are delivered by playing an on-demand video that is hosted by STEMentors, who are students at the University of Nebraska. A frontline instructor at the afterschool site helps lead the activities.
During the spring of 2024, the STEMentors StartNStop eLearning Video Program will be piloted with up to 8 program sites. Any sites that agree to participate in the program will receive a free program kit to be used over a 2-month period. In return, the afterschool provider will participate in a 30-minute Zoom feedback session to share the pros and cons of program delivery.
Take A Look Inside STEMentors
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STEMentors
We train STEMentors to develop StartNStop Videos on topics they are passionate about to help afterschool's engage youth with hands-on STEM activities.
Video FORMAT
Afterschool programs can watch videos online or download the video to guide their afterschool participants in a STEM learning activity.
Curriculum
We provide a collection of research-based STEM curriculum and resources to ensure youth have a high-quality, hands-on learning experience, all while having fun!
ANYONE CAN LEAD
StartNStop Videos walk the group through a fun learning experience introducing the topic, leaving stopping points for activities, and concluding the activity with a thoughtful recap.
customizable experience
Experiences are flexible and can be customized to fit your current afterschool schedule and program.
VIDEOS AVAILBLE
Three StartNStop Videos are being piloted. More videos are being produced!
SUPPLIES:
Afterschool program sites are responsible for providing a classroom for participants, a frontline staff member to assist youth, a computer with reliable internet capabilities, and a projection system with audio. In 2024, activity kits will be provided by Nebraska 4-H to the first four registered program sites each quarter. Kits will provide all materials to facilitate each on-demand StartNStop Video.
ACTIVITY Videos
Grades 3-6 Explorers of the Deep
Students learn how to prepare an ocean robot for a research mission. They will “ballast” their ocean robot by adding weights to create the sinking and floating behavior of a real ocean robot. Then they will investigate the data collected by ocean robots and learn about ocean exploration.
Primary Supplies Needed: Explorers of the Deep Program Kit provided by STEMentors
Grades 3-6 Cosmic claw from galactic quest
Students learn about agriculture in space and use the Engineering Design Process to design, build, and operate a hydraulic-powered robotic arm. Working in small teams, they will create and test their robotic arm by completing different agricultural tasks. Their design will need to be able to grasp, scoop or rake up simulated crops.
Primary Supplies Needed: Galactic Quest Program Kit provided by STEMentors
Grades 1-6 Hack your harvest from Game Changers
Students learn about automation and efficiency in computer programming. They learn how to solve puzzles that simulate programming an automated tractor. Then they create own game boards and have classmates try to solve them.
Primary Supplies Needed: Game Changers Program Kit provided by STEMentors
Registration
Semester: Spring 2024, 1st Session
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 12, 2024
Kit Delivered: Week of January 15, 2024
Kit Returned: Week of February 26, 2024
Semester: Spring 2024, 2nd Session
Registration Deadline: Friday, March 8, 2024
Kit Delivered: Week of March 11, 2024
Kit Returned: Week of April 22, 2024
Funding
The STEMentors StartNStop Video Pilot is supported by the Peter Kiewit Foundation.