Useful Links to STEM Activities and Resources

Programming

• Code.org

  • • Take the an hour of code challenge

    • Uses Blockly, a simple/visual syntax

• Code Academy

  • • Take a free class in programming

    • Learn Python, Ruby, or a multitude of other programming languages

• Code Combat

  • • Learn to code while you build a character to battle your foes

    • Very engaging

• Google CS First

  • • Coding challenges

    • A great way to build a foundation in programming

    • Use class code vv4mm6 to sign up

• Lightbot

  • • Use algorithmic thinking to maneuver your Lightbot through progressively difficult challenges

• Scratch

  • • Design a game, make an animation, or just have fun and share it with the world

    • A great introduction to programming using Blockly

• • Some others: BlueJ, Coding Ground, GameMaker, Greenfoot, Made with Code, MIT App Inventor

Robotics

• Amazon Deepracer League

  • Build and program a car to race on a virtual circuit using machine learning

  • Compete against competitors from around the world

  • Free to a point, then costs creep with extended server time

• Boston Dynamics

  • Explore the cutting edge of robotics

  • Some others: Arduino, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, Lego Robotics, RobotC, VEX

STEM

• Make

• NOVA

• OMSI

• Project Lead the Way

• Saturday Academy

• TED

Technology Courses Online

• Coursera

• edX

• Khan Academy

• MIT Open Courseware

Career

• Occupational Outlooks

  • • explore occupations in science, technology, engineering, and math at U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

    • make a children's book, flyer, or website about a STEM career that interests you

Design and Modeling

• Autodesk

  • • register as a student and get Autodesk Inventor, Revit, or ANY Autodesk product for free

    • build a part/assembly to solve a problem or just have fun

    • share your part with the world on Thingiverse (see below)

• Tinkercad

  • • make and share your own 3D designs

    • similar to Inventor but much simpler

    • convert your designs to LEGOs to build at home

    • program, simulate, and assemble your designs

• Design Squad

  • • build from a design squad activity or get inspired from an episode

    • watch as teams use the design process to make unique challenges

• SketchUp

  • • download, explore, and build 3D designs using a unique way what was originally Google SketchUp

    • check out the community designs and import one into SketchUp and modify to

• Thingiverse

  • • upload and share you 3D modeled designs with the world

    • get inspired by the designs of others

Electrical

• Circuit Lab

  • • build and test your own electronic circuits

Medical

• FoodSafety.gov

  • • Learn about food safety and food borne pathogens, especially if you sometimes prepare your own meals

• WebMD

  • • Explore diseases and experiment with the symptom checker