This Halloween, the Verizon Foundation is giving hundreds of NYC middle school students a different type of treat that’s super sweet – tablets and 24/7 connectivity – through an initiative under Verizon Innovative Learning. This past Saturday, October 29th P.S. 171 Patrick Henry was turned into an interactive playground where students were immersed in high tech experiences while receiving personal mobile devices, a treat that will last 2 years with a 4G LTE data plan for use at home and at school.
P.S. 171 became one of three New York City schools, joining the ranks of 46 schools nationwide participating in the Verizon Innovative Learning initiative.
Students will participate in the following technology experiences, and my son who was on hand gave them all a test spin of his own. Of course he now wants to transfer schools! Take a look at his adventure into PS 171’s new Verizon Learning Initiative Program.
Science: Virtual Reality Universe for sure immersed all of the students in the worlds of physical and life sciences.
Technology: See Your Future, after a short quiz to uncover his potential STEM career, shocker the results revealed a career in Technology! After a pic in front of a green screen we checked out his individual photo come to life in a STEM inspired digital jumbo mosaic art installation.
Engineering: The Great BB-8™ Race– May the force be with the students as they apply robotics and engineering to an app controlled BB-8™ droid. After just watching the others play JD has now added this BB-8™ to his Christmas wish list, along the VR machine, and more!
Math: How Do You Stat Up?Students will learn how variables in the quadratic function can help them sink the perfect basketball free throw shot!
Verizon knows low income students are at a learning disadvantage. According to Pew Research, roughly one-third (31.4%) of households whose annual incomes fall below $50,000 and with children ages 6 to 17, do not have a high-speed internet connection at home.
With the recent growth in STEM-skilled jobs, and the underrepresentation of minorities in these fields, it’s clear we need to do more to level the playing field for students from minority and underserved communities. Through Verizon Innovative Learning, the education initiative of the Verizon Foundation, we develop measurable STEM education programs that provide students with technology and hands-on learning to help build the confidence they need to become tomorrow’s creator.
To learn more about Verizon Innovative Learning, please visit verizon.com/inspires.
Disclosure: As a Verizon ambassador, we were invited to this event as media coverage.
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