VNR: UH Mānoa students provide interactive STEM learning experience to IHS keiki

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Marc Arakaki, (808) 228-3215
Content Producer, UH Communications
Posted: Jun 29, 2021


Link to video and sound (details below): https://bit.ly/3AaSkkI

WHAT: Two University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students introduced the world of robots to keiki at the Institute for Human Services (IHS) in Iwilei for UH Mānoa’s “Be a Scientist” day on June 28. 

Kids received a hands-on learning experience with Dash bots, which are miniature robots that can be controlled using a smartphone. They colored a picture of a dash bot and explored their creative imagination by illustrating a robot of their own, then operated and programmed the robots to perform complex maneuvers.

WHY: “Be a Scientist” day provides an opportunity to teach Hawaiʻi’s keiki about STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), while also providing UH Mānoa students a chance to become teachers of their own.

WHO: Ionica Macadangdang, a UH Mānoa senior biological engineering major, and Evan Imata, a UH Mānoa junior astrophysics major 

Additional details: 

  • The students will host two additional “Be a Scientist” days in July 2021.

  • IHS is a human services agency focused on preventing and ending homelessness.

  • In spring 2021—with funding support from the UH Mānoa Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity office—Macadangdang, Imata and another student, Elizabeth Peterson, provided virtual tutoring to IHS keiki during the pandemic. They also expanded the outreach program to work with two Hawaiʻi public schools. 

  • Their goal is to design a volunteer-based tutoring program provided by the UH Mānoa learning assistants program by fall 2021 to continue offering these services to the community.

 

VIDEO BROLL: (1:47)

0:00-1:10 - kids operating robots

1:10-1:47 - kids learning about robots

 

SOUNDBITES:

Ionica Macadangdang, UH Mānoa student

(0:16)

“It was really awesome, especially considering that a lot of kids have been out of the traditional classroom environment that they’ve been used to, so being able to recreate that environment—which they thrive in—has been a really awesome feeling and seeing them engaged is really heartwarming.”

(0:13)

“We decided that we wanted to have just outreach into the community more with more disadvantaged, underprivileged students. Especially with the transition to distance learning, things have been hard for them so we’re trying to jumpstart STEM interest in them.”