The American has created a mobile classroom for teaching children in low-budget 3D printing schools, the project has already collected more than 100,000

Jason Martin conducts classes at a public school in Atlanta Parking

translation articles CNN made for you the Top 3D Shop .

Jason Martin is an enthusiastic teacher in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He wants each American school curriculum to focus on subjects such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. But public schools are simply not able to afford to conduct such disciplines.

Why is it necessary

“There is a so-called“ window of missed opportunities ”in public education, says Martin.“ Public schools located in low-income areas simply don’t have enough financial resources to set up a school workshop or production lab. ”

Thus, Martin decided to provide students with these missing classes. His STE (A) M truck (the letter “A” in the truck’s name means “art”) drives from school to school in the Atlanta area, delivering 3D printers , laser cutters and saws, as well as laptops for low-income students .

Most of the learning process is based on project objectives. One class was offered to create a camera for a videographer who has no hands from birth. Another class was offered a brainstorm on the topic “how to make eating vegetables more fun”.

Motivation

His own experience of studying at school prompted Martin to launch his “class on wheels” project.
“I grew up in different regions of the state of New Jersey, and different places of residence influenced my education,” says Martin. “Its quality varied greatly - from the level of rural schools to the level of schools in large cities.”

In high school, Martin enrolled as a student in a local bricklayer. “It was not an easy job, but it made me believe that everyone should have technical skills and be able to handle tools.”

After nine years of teaching in public schools in low-income areas, he wanted to help improve the situation.

How did the project start?

First, Jason remade a metal repair truck into a mobile innovation laboratory and made his debut with her at the Georgia Masters Fair in 2013. Within five months, Martin managed to collect grants in the amount of $ 100,000.

These funds allowed him to purchase a used truck and convert it into the first full-featured STEM car. The Atlanta Department of Public Schools also allocated him $ 20,000 to launch his project in two schools in the spring of 2014.

Implementation

The “class on wheels” Martina offers two training programs for schools, each of which is designed for 20 days and requires that girls attend half of the classes.
At one school, “we parked the truck in the school parking lot and deployed the class inside the truck and trailer,” Martin said.


Martin's Truck Inside

Classes are taught by teachers and artists hired by Community Guilds, Martin's nonprofit organization. They cover a wide range of subjects - from programming and electronics to art and design. In each class, the ratio of teachers to students is one in five.

The second option is direct classes in the classroom. According to Martin, his goal is to actively attract teachers to schools and help them implement STEM principles in the everyday educational process.

The cost of training programs varies from $ 21,000 to $ 26,000, which, according to Martin, is a more economically viable option for schools than hiring a full-time STEM teacher.

Results and plans

KIPP WAYS Academy is a state high school in Atlanta, it was one of two pilot schools in which a new approach to learning was tested.

School principal Dwight Ho-Sang says that 90% of his students are from low-income families and it’s simply not possible to hire a full-time STEM teacher. Instead, he hopes to arrange more frequent visits of STEM trucks for his students.

“It was amazing to give our students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience,” he said. “It has benefited each of them.”

500 students, from 10 public schools in low-income areas, have already completed a 20-day educational program. Martin says that so far, expenses have been offset by grants, the county’s municipal budget, and corporate sponsorship.

Martin's goal is for STEM's truck fleet to serve 4,000 Georgia students annually by 2019.

“STEM Trucks provide equal educational opportunities for all students. I want to turn this project into a nationwide initiative, ”says Martin.

What do you think about this initiative and its implementation? Can such a project exist in Russia, and will it be successful? Share your opinion in the comments.