New Partnership with MIT Expands STEAM Participation

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has entered into a collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Global CoCreation Lab (GCL) to give MIT students the opportunity to teach STEAM subjects to K-12 students. At the same time, young Miami talent will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing scientific innovation projects, led by MIT and Miami-based faculty.

 

GCL provides MIT students the opportunity to learn through teaching, while sharing the institute’s unique approach to education with partner high schools around the world. M-DCPS is the first school district in the nation chosen to take part in the GCL project. The initiative was launched last month at Henry S. West Laboratory School, with several MIT student volunteers.

 

“This innovative and collaborative partnership with MIT provides a tremendous opportunity for our students to not only learn from some of the most brilliant higher-education students in our nation, but to inspire them to become innovators in STEAM,” said Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “I look forward to expanding this partnership within our schools to further enhance the learning experience for our future leaders.” 

As part of an agreement between the two educational powerhouses, select K-12 schools within M-DCPS could become a magnet for MIT students enrolled in GCL who would:

 

·       become teachers’ assistants of STEAM subjects and contribute to the increased academic performance of M-DCPS K-12 students;

·       participate in GCL’s research and innovation collaborations rooted in Miami;

·       introduce new subjects or reinforce traditional ones with hands-on teaching;

·       share experiential methodology, MIT teaching practices, and online resources;

·       connect Miami-Dade County schools with other educational programs; and

·       be a source of inspiration for M-DCPS K-12 students towards STEAM subjects, nudging and motivating their future choices towards careers in tech in Miami schools.

MIT student teaches at Henry S. West Laboratory School through partnership with Global CoCreation Lab.

GCL has selected several MIT students who are interested in teaching at M-DCPS and will participate on site through multiple trips to Miami as well as remotely while at MIT, in order to prepare materials with Miami-Dade public school teachers. Their first experience in a M-DCPS classroom was a powerful one.

 

“The student asked what may seem simple questions, but in reality, are very well-pointed and often cut to the core of key issues,” said Steve DeSandis, an MBA candidate at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

 

DeSandis taught lessons in electricity and magnets to the West Lab 6th graders. He also shared his interest in developing technologies to help people with brain injuries and diseases like stroke and dementia. "I was very impressed by their proactive interest and questions related to neurology and biology, which demonstrated a grasp of the key challenges in science along with a healthy dose of creative thinking.”

MIT student teaches at Henry S. West Laboratory School through partnership with Global CoCreation Lab.

The next M-DCPS on-site MIT student teaching experience will take place in April of 2020.

 

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), an A-rated district, is the nation’s fourth largest school system with nearly 400 schools and a diverse enrollment of more than 350,000 students from over 160 countries. Our ongoing tradition of groundbreaking achievement has earned top recognition at the national and international levels. M-DCPS also recently reached a landmark graduation rate of 89.2 percent.

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