Using STEM technology, funded by a TVA grant, to learn and have fun at Coalition for Kids this summer. Left to right: Cipriano Garcia, Shyanne Adams and Brevynn Miller.
Learning never stops, and the Tennessee Valley Authority has made it possible for kids at the Coalition for Kids in Johnson City to learn while staying on the go all summer long.
To promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education, TVA awarded a $2,000 grant to Coalition for Kids, an organization that provides education and care to at-risk children in the tri-cities area of upper East Tennessee. The funds were used to purchase 19 “walking classroom” sets that allow students to walk around while listening to headsets (similar to self-guided tours at museums)—usefully combining exercise and education.
“We really appreciate TVA and their support of STEM education,” says Coalition for Kids executive director Randy Hensley. “TVA’s donation actually helps us prevent summer learning loss. The STEM headsets allow our summer campers to keep on learning while staying active in the summer.”
The student participants appreciate the change of pace. “It’s better than sitting in a classroom,” said Shyanne Adams, a fourth grader at Mountain View Elementary School. Shyanne, pictured at center above with her friends Cipriano Garcia (left) and Brevynn Miller (right), learns facts about STEM subjects while walking around the gym at a brisk pace. Students also use the headsets outdoors where they have the opportunity to learn about a variety of subjects while enjoying some outside time and exercise.
“For TVA, investing in a new generation of engineers and scientists is a priority,” says Gail Rymer, director of community and public relations for TVA. “STEM education is critical to a brighter future in the fields of energy, environment and economic development—the three facets of our core mission.”
