Rolling into neighborhoods soon! Through a generous $1.13 million
grant over three years from Dell,
the Perot Museum of Nature and Science has created a mobile innovation
truck that will bring science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM)
learning to a broader and more diverse audience in the D/FW region
and beyond.
The Perot Museum TECH Truck, powered by Dell, will
provide more opportunities for the community to engage in museum experiences
through free, out-of-school educational and interactive programs, including drop-in
sessions and workshops, using no- and low-tech activities as well as high-tech
experiences. The program is designed to reach people who – for a variety of
reasons – do not or cannot engage with the Museum at its physical location.
“We know there are families who never or rarely have an
opportunity to visit museums, so we want to bring technology and digital
literacy directly into their neighborhoods,” said Colleen Walker, Eugene
McDermott Chief Executive Officer of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
The super-cool, custom-outfitted van has been nicknamed TECH Truck, an acronym based on the
program’s mission to inspire youth to “Tinker,
Engineer, Create, and Hack.” Specially
trained Perot Museum educators will work on a full- time basis to instruct children
to solve design challenges through hands-on making, tinkering and creative
problem solving. Activities will include soldering, squishy circuits, coding,
robotics, wind-tube challenges, 3D printing, laser cutting and stomp rocket
design, to name a few.
The TECH Truck will
debut this fall, operating 300 days per year and reaching an estimated 20,000
people annually at community centers, libraries, public areas and parks,
community events and schools. Plans are to launch a second TECH Truck in 2016. Each TECH Truck will be large enough to accommodate
two staff members plus necessary materials and equipment. A pop-up awning will allow
outdoor programming to take place adjacent to the vehicle.
For more information about the TECH Trucks, go to perotmuseum.org/techtruck
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