Overview

The mission of TechREACH is to increase middle school students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on high-quality curriculum, role models, and instructor training. TechREACH has trained 28 teachers to offer hands-on technology-integrated curriculum to students. Topics include Digital Photography, Building Design with 3D Modeling, Animation, Podcasting, Renewable Energy, Arcade Game Creation, Robotics, and more.

Our sustainable clubs and summer programs help schools involve minority and low-income middle school students in technology. The role of TechREACH is to equip teachers with the proven curriculum and training that generate excitement for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) while building students’ confidence. Participants are inspired by their abilities and can imagine themselves thriving in technology careers. In a world that needs, demands and rewards technical ability, this attitude is crucial. Our teacher training in TechREACH curriculum and club management sets our programs apart. The activities engage students and teachers alike. More importantly, TechREACH clubs change students’ perceptions of what they can do and where they can achieve success.

Founded in 2003 with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and expanded with support from the National Science Foundation, TechREACH has improved the technology skills, access, and confidence of over 1400 youth with more than 40 clubs. TechREACH is a program of the EdLab Group (formerly the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology), headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington. We offer teacher training and technology integrated curriculum to schools and organizations nationwide.

Ochoa Middle School 2009
In preparation for the culminating activity, TechREACH club leader, Gabriel Perez, asked students to create a PowerPoint presentation that addressed a series of prompts about the Renewable Energy unit and included thoughts about their overall TechREACH experiences.

The majority of students in the Ochoa Middle School TechREACH boys’ club are English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. During their presentations, rather than speaking in Spanish (their native language), the students spoke in English. While some words were challenging for the students, they proceeded to carefully pronounce them and continued moving through the slides. Each presentation was personalized, well-planned, and obviously rehearsed. During and after each presentation, every student in the class was respectful and applauded the presenter, and you could see the pride on each student’s face.

One of the students spoke about the importance of TechREACH on his life, as he focused on the computer and the curriculum the program had provided him. He shared what he had learned about renewable energy, and how he now thinks about the impact of using non-renewable energy in his community.

Another student shared what he had learned from a guest speaker: “I learned that no matter what opportunities I may have right now, I can achieve whatever I want. I can be more than I am right now.”

At the end of the culminating event, we watched videos that had been taken throughout the duration of the TeachREACH club. All of the students were laughing, working, sharing and problem-solving together. From building miniature wind turbines to constructing and testing wind turbine blades, students who did not know each other outside of TechREACH had created an obvious community of respect and friendship. When one student placed his wind turbine blades on the wind turbine for testing, the blades did not spin. One of the students joked, “Those blades are moving so fast, you can’t even see them spinning.” Every student, and even the Club leader, laughed out loud. The most amazing part was how the student, whose blades didn’t spin, laughed along with them, as they each gathered around to help figure out how to improve his design.