All posts by newtonstem

PluggedIn: Inclusive Online Courses in Music Production & Technology

After School

PluggedIn, based in Needham, is a unique, inclusive, nonprofit youth music program for ages 6-19. It’s open to all students, regardless of ability to pay, ability to play, special needs, etc. Individual students may sign up for these online fall courses, September 13-November 5:

  • SoundTrap: Intro to Digital Audio Production: Fridays 4:30-6PM, or Saturdays 2PM-3:30PM, or Sundays 12:30-2PM.
  • Reaper: Digital Audio Production:  Thursdays 4:30-6PM, Saturdays 3:30-5PM, or Sundays 2PM-3:30PM
  • Creating Audio Programming 1 — Make Some Noise: Thursdays 6PM-7:30PM or Fridays 6PM-7:30PM
  • Creating Audio Programming 2 — Making Audio Plugins: Thursdays 3PM-4:30PM or 7:30-9PM
  • World’s Biggest Stage — Livestreaming 101: Mondays or Tuesdays 8PM-9:30PM

Courses except for the Creative Audio Programming ones will culminate in an online showcase on November 20. Schools or other organizations may arrange to have the same courses for their groups on other days/times, including during school hours.

NASA TechRise Challenge: Design Experiments for Sub-Orbital Flight or High-Altitude Balloon

Opportunities

The NASA TechRise Challenge is now open for teams of students in Grades 6-12 to design experiments to be run either in a sub-orbital rocket or in a high-altitude balloon.  A team may have any number of students, and all team members must be from the same school. Each team must have one Team Lead who is a teacher or school employee. Designs must be submitted by November 3. Winners will be announced on January 21. Fifty-seven teams with winning designs will each receive a grant of $1,500 to build their experiments, technical support and office hours with mentors, as well as an assigned spot on a NASA-sponsored commercial suborbital flight.

2021 Congressional App Challenge is Now Open; Apps Due Nov. 1

Opportunities

All Massachusetts members of Congress have joined other House colleagues in hosting the Congressional App Challenge. Students in Grades 6-12 may register, as individuals or in teams of up to four, in the Congressional District in which they live or attend school. Apps may be created in any language, on any platform, on any theme or purpose. They must be submitted by November 1. Submissions will be evaluated by local judges who work in academic, software, and entrepreneurial fields. The winning app from each participating Congressional District will be announced in December and will have their apps highlighted online and in an exhibit in the Capitol.

Museum of Science: Imagination and STEM (Survey and Public Panels)

Opportunities

Boston’s Museum of Science, through funding from the National Science Foundation, is exploring the relationship between imagination and STEM. The public is invited to participate in these activities:

Science Club for Girls Extends its Reach Online

Resources, Virtual/Online

Science Club for Girls is using online facilities developed during the pandemic to extend its reach for fostering excitement, confidence, and literacy in STEM for girls and young women from underrepresented communities. These online programs will continue post-pandemic, too.

SCFGLive! is starting its third season and is now more available than ever. Started in April, 2020 and aimed primarily at Grades K-5, SCFGLive! broadcasts live on Fridays at 4PM on the SCFG Facebook page, YouTube channel, and website. Previous broadcasts are available on-demand on the SCFG YouTube channel and website, as well as on Comcast Xfinity and several community-access CATV stations:  Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Lawrence, Lowell, and Somerville (…but not yet NewTV).

SCFG’s Fall Clubs will be offered both in-person and virtually for Grade K-5 Science Clubs, Middle School STEMinistas, and Grades 8-12 Junior Mentors.

Adults and STEM-related companies are invited to get involved as mentors, volunteers, and partners.