SCIENCE, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Guyana, in association with the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, will soon conduct a series of certification programmes for technology ‘buffs’.

According to a press statement from STEM, the technology buffs include youth leaders and teachers who are interested in starting technology clubs in their own and nearby communities.

The one-day sessions will be held over three consecutive days from February 1 to 3 and each is expected to accommodate about 20 participants.
The certification programme is the brainchild of co-founders of STEM Guyana, Leon Caleb Christian.

“It will be co-ordinated by other co-founders, Karen Abrams, a Start-up Inclusion Consultant, and Ima Christian who is pursuing studies at Stanford University, California, USA. STEM Guyana’s local Master Trainers will also be on hand to facilitate,” the press statement noted.

The potential coaches will learn all about the International STEM League; about the best ways to organise and lead a technology club; how to use the league’s competition software; the rudiments of building and programming robots; and the fundamentals of MIT Scratch programming.

Scratch is a programming language and online community where techs get assistance to create their own interactive stories, games and animations.
Following the certification programme, the new coaches will be expected to form clubs and then prepare their teams for competition in the upcoming Scratch and Robotics nationwide (Guyana) tournaments.

These will be officially launched by STEM Guyana at the end of February 2018, and community teams led by more than 50 coaches are expected to participate.
The seminars will begin with 20 coaches from across the country who had signed up online. On the second day, Friday, February 2, STEM Guyana will host 20 teachers from local public schools, while teachers from Bartica along with several private schools will be prepared for certification on Saturday, February 3.

Each day the session will begin at 08:30 hrs in the Ministry of Public Telecommunications Conference Room.
Interested teachers and youth leaders should email stemguyana@gmail.com to request additional information.