In response to COVID-19, educational nonprofit organizations are quickly finding new ways to service their students.

Engineering Tomorrow, which was founded by engineers from Global Infrastructure Partners to increase the number of high school students who pursue engineering degrees (w/ an emphasis on females and minority populations), is taking their conference format where students gather to participate in hands-on breakouts led by high-level engineers using sophisticated equipment and transforming these breakouts into virtual “Instagram Challenges” for high school students.  In the “challenges,” students use materials they can find in their home as a substitute for large, and often expensive, lab equipment.  The “challenges” are fun, creative and educational, while also providing a platform for students to interact and compete during a time when they cannot be together in-person. Engineering Tomorrow also provides corresponding national standards-based virtual lesson plans to help teachers who are now under pressure to develop engaging online curriculum.

New Hybrid Labs: see the Engineering Tomorrow Hybrid Lab Flyer to learn about this new virtual program and view the Hybrid Lab Curriculum

Check out the TryEngineering Live Virtual Event featuring Engineering Tomorrow (Partner Spotlight). This on-demand virtual event highlights lesson plans from Engineering Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization developed by engineers. Presenters walk through a virtual lesson plan focused on catapults and machine learning as well as on the corresponding Instagram challenge. The challenge allows high school students to engage in a competitive intellectual and creative exercise, while also giving them a way to connect with their peers during a time of physical separation.

Contact Megan Barrett, Engineering Tomorrow Program Director, at megan.barrett@engineeringtomorrow.org.