SRVUSD Alum Gets Creative
Cathy McSweeney  |  Sept. 15, 2023 

Bir, a 2022 graduate of California High School and current DVC Computer Science student, realized that teachers often feel inundated by the numerous technology tools available on the internet. Schools, districts, or peers may also encourage the use of a new software or or tech tool that teachers might feel uncertain about using.

Bir had an idea. He believed that a platform was needed to help teachers consolidate and share educational resources all in one place…. so Bir created AwesomeSTEAM. Bir hopes that this new platform, which serves as a repository for the many educational tools available on the web, will help teachers have a single place to view quality technology tools for classroom use, thus saving teachers the time and effort of searching the web. “I would say, the whole mission of this is just to make like these educational resources — high-quality, digital ones — accessible for all kinds of different teachers to use,” Bir shared in an interview with EdSurge.

AwesomeSTEAM.org is a free website that can be updated by both teachers and students to include tried and true educational materials. From engineering to math, science to technology, and art, AwesomeSTEAM provides links to free digital options for all, including lectures from MIT professors, links to free coding for kids, and even cram sheets for certain AP exams. The site boasts over 600 resources from 20 contributors. Bir is cautious about vetting the links that contributors add and checking them for depth of information and to be sure they are not soliciting products or services.

As SRVUSD focuses on the Learner Profile and preparing students to thrive and excel in post-high school endeavors, it is easy to point toward a student like Bir as a model for the essential competencies that we aspire for students to possess upon graduation: critical thinkers, adaptable learners, effective communicators, intentional collaborators, and creative contributors. 

We look forward to the other ways that Rahul Bir, and all of our SRVUSD students will make their mark on this world.