I plan on pitching DASH+ to all the teens I work with, not just the youth who excel at design or engineering. The elements of the contest – designing a dashboard of the future, writing a technical plan, and filming a video ad for automakers – combine to make an outstanding opportunity for youth leadership.
As a Senior Educator at the Science Center, I spend time studying how people learn best. Hands-on, interactive learning is the right approach for many youth, and DASH+ lets them roll up their sleeves on a project that teaches fuel efficiency, marketing and STEM skills.
We work to build teamwork with our teens, and DASH+ requires two or more high school students to work together to drive change today. I’m excited about the opportunity to mentor student teams, and I have a few tips to share for fellow mentors who may want to register a team.
- Maintain a role of authority, but don’t be afraid to show youth that you like to have fun
- Look for a diverse group so that students can leverage each other’s talents
- Be involved in the beginning to help get the teams started, but be ready to step back when the students are ready to take the reigns
- To learn more about what you can do as a mentor, visit the DASH+ Mentor Support Page
I can’t wait to serve as an adult mentor for DASH+ student teams, and I hope you’ll visit the contest Web site to learn more.
To get a taste of what I do at the Saint Louis Science Center, visit: http://youthexploringscience.com/
--Brandon Byrd
Senior Educator, Saint Louis Science Center
