By Jessica Zimmerman

Newport News, Va. (October 28, 2022) – The Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab (iLab) is set to be a pilot site for a new innovative STEM program for early learners in the region. As part of the pilot location, the iLab will offer a free eight-week program – from now until December 8 – designed to help young children (Pre-K – 1^st) learn foundational STEM fluencies that are prerequisite to all STEM learning.

The program is through Kid Spark Education, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps provide elementary and middle schools with high-quality STEM education early and consistently to disrupt the pattern of educational inequality.

“Not only will this program introduce STEM-inspired topics to early learners, but it will also contribute to the overall body of knowledge for invention education,” said Dr. Mia Joe, Director, Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab. “Kid Spark Education, along with the University of San Diego and ODU’s Center for Educational Partnerships decided Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab was the ideal learning environment for their program. We appreciate their revelation!”

Kid Spark knows that students who don’t get started with STEM and Invention Education in elementary school have a low likelihood of participating in STEM and Invention Education in middle and high school. Students need a STEM identity and positive orientation to STEM by the second or third grade. Kid Spark supports children from the earliest stage of learning to give them the foundation to excel in every educational and experiential opportunity they encounter, in STEM and beyond.

The Pre-K-1^st Grade STEM Program at the iLab will focus on helping young students to develop important competencies in STEM such as spatial reasoning, sequence and correspondence, and creative problem solving. The iLab will be provided with curriculum, engineering materials, printed booklets and more. Kid Spark also prepares training for innovation lab teachers on how to conduct the program and then provide feedback to inform elements of the research.

To register for the program, please visit www.brookscrossingilab.com or email brookscrossing@odu.edu.

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About Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab:

Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab (iLab) is ODU’s community outreach on the Peninsula.   The iLab, promotes a skills development environment with interdisciplinary collaboration and community partnerships. These collaborations and partnerships link institutions of higher education, business and industry, community outreach, and PreK-12 public schools. Hands-on quality-driven learning opportunities are provided to increase awareness of, interest in, and readiness for STEM-related careers and entrepreneurship endeavors that are in line with the current and future recruitment needs of local industry. The mission of Brooks Crossing Innovation Laboratory is to promote and inspire curiosity, critical thinking, collaboration, career readiness, entrepreneurship, and an interest in lifelong learning through digital and hands-on fabrication and STEM programming that aligns education with economic development, industry, and workforce needs.