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It can be tough to find the perfect Christmas present for kids these days. If you’re in the market for something unique and educational, consider signing your kids up for a course at InnovEd.
InnovEd (photo courtesy of InnovEd)
InnovEd is a learning center located at 7135 N. Chestnut Ave., Ste 102 in Fresno. Founded by Dr. Ellie Honardoost, InnovEd specializes in S.T.E.M. programs for kids from preschool to high school. That’s right—even your three-year-old can get a head start on a career in technology.
S.T.E.M. stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Although these subjects can often be stereotyped as dry or difficult, programs like InnovEd prove these outdated assumptions wrong with engaging classes that are fun and educational. Whether you know a child who loves technology and science, or you just want to expose them to robots (and of course the opportunities of S.T.E.M. studies), InnovEd is a great local resource.
Hand-built robots from students at InnovEd (photo courtesy of InnovEd)
InnovEd programs
InnovEd has an 8-to-1 student to teacher ratio and uses cutting-edge technology such as 3D printers, CADD (computer aided drafting and design) programs, and open sourced electronic programs like Arduino. Spring courses are taking sign ups now and there’s a wide variety to choose from:
After School Programs
If you’re looking for a fun way to fill kids’ time after school, you can enroll them in after school programs. Depending on the course, the age range is 3rd grade all the way to 12th. Courses offered include Intro to Mobile App Development, Coding, and 3D Design and Printing. You can sign up for Monday classes or Tuesday classes. To find out more about the after school programs that start on Jan. 8 and 9, click here.
Homeschool and Charter School Programs
For kids who are in Inspire, Compass or Summit Academy charter schools, InnovEd is an approved vendor. To find out how to register using charter funds, you can call (559) 321-8434. The S.T.E.M.-based courses vary from Intro to Biomedical Engineering to Coding and Video Game Design. To see a list of all of the homeschool/charter school programs, click here.
Preschool Enrichment
This course only accepts 20 students per semester. This program uses various hands-on activities to nurture a love for the sciences in preschool kids. To register for the upcoming semester (which begins March 6), click here.
High School Courses
If you’re looking to enrich a high school student’s educational experience, you can sign them up for an AP writing workshop or an Intro to Artificial Intelligence course, to name two examples. For a complete list of courses, click here.
Weekend Courses
Starting Jan. 13, InnovEd will offer a weekend course on Intro to Biomedical Engineering. Although it sounds like a college course, it’s actually geared to 3rd-6th graders. The class takes place on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and lasts four weeks. During this class, kids will get to prototype a prosthetic hand! To register or find out more information, click here.
Additional Programs
Although courses are offered all year, in January there will be a Toy Making Camp. This camp is for grades 3-6 and spans from Jan. 2 to 4. Each day kids will work on a new toy utilizing technology such as 3D printing, robotics, electric circuits, LED lights, and more. All in all, kids will make five toys ranging from custom fidget spinners to hydraulic cranes. If you’re interested in registering a kid for the Toy Making Camp, simply fill out the registration form here.
Of course, this isn’t a complete overview of services and classes offered—you can even throw a S.T.E.M.-themed birthday party! Check the InnovEd website here for more info on classes, camps, and weekend programs, email info@innovedinc.org, or call (559) 321-8434.
