Dell Learning Lab South Africa 2021
(Sihamba Sonke)
We had an amazing start to our STEM Afterschool Program in September, partnering with Sihamba Sonke to bring this initiative to life at Dell’s Solar Learning Lab in Zithulele, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Over six action-packed weeks, students dove into the world of STEM, exploring everything from computer science to robotics, with plenty of hands-on fun along the way!
Week 1: Introduction
Our journey kicked off with a bang as students participated in a virtual orientation, getting their first taste of the iNERDE program. We introduced them to the tools they’d be using—Google Classroom and Zoom—and gave them a sneak peek at the exciting things ahead. The highlight? A dry run of the virtual mentorship, where students had their first one-on-one meetings with their mentors. It was the perfect way to set the stage for what was to come!
Week 2: Math
The fun continued in Week 2 as students rolled up their sleeves for a deep dive into the guts of a computer. They learned how to disassemble and reassemble a computer, discovering what makes these incredible machines tick. Plus, they picked up some cool math hacks to sharpen their skills. Virtual Mentorship Day 1 was a hit, with mentors helping students connect the dots between math and technology.
Week 3: Natural Science
Week 3 brought the wonders of natural science to life. Students explored the fascinating world of human cells and got a crash course in the history of microscopes. But the real magic happened when they assembled their very own foldscopes—paper microscopes they used to observe the tiny building blocks of life. Virtual Mentorship Day 2 added an extra layer of discovery, with mentors guiding students through their microscopic adventures.
Week 4: Engineering
Engineering took center stage in Week 4, as students learned about the Engineering Design Process and put it into practice by building catapults. Watching their creations launch objects across the room was a blast! Virtual Mentorship Day 3 focused on how engineering principles apply to real-world challenges, making the process of building catapults both fun and educational.
Week 5: Programming pt. 1
Robotics entered the scene in Week 5, where students got hands-on with block coding in the miniBloq application. They learned the basics of programming and how to apply them to create their very own robots. The excitement of Virtual Mentorship Day 4 was palpable, as mentors helped students see how coding could unlock endless possibilities in technology.
Week 6: Programming pt. 2
The grand finale in Week 6 had students assembling AERobots and using their newfound block coding skills to program and control these amazing machines. It was the perfect culmination of everything they’d learned. After a final survey to gather their thoughts on the program, students had their last virtual mentorship session, wrapping up an unforgettable experience that left them eager for more.
Our STEM Afterschool Program at Sihamba Sonke was a huge success, igniting a passion for STEM in the hearts of these young minds. We’re so proud of everything they’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see where their newfound skills take them!