Service-Learning, with virtual STEM

We had planned to send 400 students to service-learning projects in 7 foreign countries this summer.  All are cancelled by the virus, of course.  One of the teams has completely redesigned their project, creating a set of STEM projects for children.  These will be deployed in Hong Kong, for a primary school. 

Several teams have produced different projects, with different kits, each with their own lesson plans.  

They have to produce hundreds of kits that they have designed for their students.  Many thousands of parts have to be cut, using laser cutter machines.  

Using our own machines, machines in the library, machines in the Industrial Center.  We are grateful to have so much help.  

Then they have to be packaged, with instructions, to the students at the school, and sent in a hurray because the lessons are starting.  

Most of the teaching and guidance in assembling and experimentation have to be done online.  

Other teams are going to use these or similar projects for children in a number of foreign countries, tentatively including Vietnam and Rwanda.  Tentative, because the plans are being developed and modified as I write.  

We have amazing students and teachers.  We also have amazing partners inside PolyU, outside in Hong Kong, and in several foreign countries.  Those are reasons we are able to scramble to keep projects going, even though the virus had cancelled all our original projects, not just overseas but also local.  In fact, we have gone to Plan B, C, D, …

We are also trying to help the other service-learning teachers to adapt their projects, find new partners, change the way we teach, …

It is challenging times, but also exciting times.  We are finding that the investment we made in previous years in cultivating long term, mutually beneficial relationships with our numerous partners are paying off in difficult times like these.  

We are learning as much as our students.