www.esafoundation.org

An ESA Foundation Grantee Note

Dear friends,

As a 2015 grantee, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is happy to introduce this edition of the ESA Foundation’s newsletter. We are thankful for the ESA Foundation’s support, which is helping to advance our mission to motivate young people in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

STEM jobs in the U.S. are expected to grow nearly twice as fast as other fields by 2018 which is why STEM education is critical to the ultimate success of our youth. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of both interested and adequately prepared K-12 students in STEM subjects, especially among young women and minority youth.

Research shows that the out-of-school environment can advance STEM learning and increase interest in STEM-related careers. BGCA’s unique position as a fun, empowering and inspiring place is an entry point for youth, particularly those who are underserved and who might otherwise shy away from STEM learning. By introducing innovation, creativity and design concepts in the technical arena, we help young people find their voice, make connections with their peers and push the boundaries of what is possible.

Through BGCA’s STEM programming, today’s digital natives are empowered to create new solutions to real-world challenges through design thinking and other 21st century skills.

Students participate in an after-school STEM program with BGCA.

Funds from the ESA Foundation help Boys & Girls Clubs take lessons learned in classrooms to a new level and help kids apply these concepts to real-life experiences. Daily activities prompt innovation, critical thinking and the exploration of problem solving through project-based learning, resulting in the ideation of business plans and creative solutions to help solve social challenges and improve local communities.

If you are interested in learning more about ways in which BGCA is advancing STEM learning among underrepresented youth, please visit our website.

Thank you again to the ESA Foundation for their support.

With appreciation,

Jessica Berger
National Director, Foundation Relations, Resource Development
Boys & Girls Clubs of America

ESA Foundation and Bootstrap bring algebra
to life

ESA Foundation caught up with the former grantee Bootstrap, to learn more about the program's impact on students in the classroom. We spoke with Bootstrap Program Director Emmanuel Schanzer and Rich Munz, a STEM teacher at Hyde-Addison Elementary School in Washington, D.C. They explained how students are responding to the Bootstrap program, which combines the world of video games with algebra. Click on the video below to learn more.

ESA Foundation grant draws record numbers

The ESA Foundation recently closed the submission period for its 2016 grant program after receiving applications from more than 150 organizations. Review of submissions are underway.

“We are thrilled by the amount of interest we received in our grant program. With so many strong applications, we have a tough but exciting task ahead in selecting our 2016 recipients,” said Jen Hale, grants administrator for ESA Foundation. “We know the winning recipients will help advance ESA Foundation’s mission of improving the lives of children across the country through interactive entertainment technology.”

Winners of the 2016 grant will be contacted in September. ESA Foundation wishes good luck to all applicants!

Summer of STEM

The start of summer means the end of another school year, but learning doesn’t have to stop. Summer camps across the U.S. are tapping into students’ enthusiasm for video games and digital technologies by hosting fun and educational STEM-focused programs. From film and robotics to game design and programming, there is something available for students of all ages.

• idTech offers game design classes and academies in 30 states. They encourage students to explore their creativity by developing Minecraft mods, creating their own game arcades and original iPhone games.
• The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. offers a unique selection of summer learning experiences that spark the imagination while offering plenty of fun. Now in their 46th year, camps run from June 22 to August 21 and are available for students in first through ninth grade.
• To find summer camp opportunities in your state, check out the Career Cornerstone Center which offers a great list of pre-college summer programs and camps with a focus on STEM.

Beyond summer camps, there is an abundance of resources and activities available online — for parents, teachers and students — to continue STEM education at home.

• BGCA offers DIY STEM resources for use by Clubs, other nonprofit organizations and families interested in STEM. The program includes five modules: Energy and Electricity, Engineering Design, Food Chemistry, Aeronautics and Robotics.
• Scholastic offers a variety of math, science and nature activities for all ages.
• Pinterest provides more than 150 Do It Yourself STEM projects.

Share your creative STEM activities with us on Facebook or Twitter.

2015 Grantees of the Month

Summer is the perfect time to go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather while being active. As one of our 2015 grantees, Zamzee — a division of HopeLab — is on a mission to make it easier for kids and families to do just that.

Click on the image above to hear about 9-year-old
Adrian Z.’s story with Zamzee.

Zamzee is working with clinical partners to explore gamification as a tool to combat sedentary behavior and prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.  According to research from HopeLab, physical activity declines by up to 60 percent between the ages of 9 and 15.

To help address this decline, Zamzee seeks to motivate, measure and manage physical activity.

The Zamzee meter clips onto clothing and measures the intensity and duration of physical activity. Users input the meter into their computer for the Zamzee experience, which allows users to track their activity online. Participants can earn rewards for their activity and engage in some friendly competition with friends and family.

“We found what really motives them – and it’s not surprising – is the fun factor. And what Zamzee is, more than anything else, is a fun experience for kids to engage in,” said Lance Henderson, CEO of Zamzee.

Looking for ways to keep your family active this summer? Zamzee’s blog provides tips and ideas for fun family activities.

Games for Change Education Summit Explores Video Games as Learning Tools

This past month, the U.S. Department of Education, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Games for Change partnered to host the first-ever Games for Learning Summit at the annual Games for Change Festival. The event brought game developers, publishers, students, educators and government officials together to identify techniques and strategies to incorporate video games in classrooms across the country.

Click on the image above to watch a recap from this
year’s Games for Learning Summit.

Featuring sessions with Department of Education Director of Educational Technology Richard Culatta, ESA President and CEO Mike Gallagher, Higher Education Video Game Alliance Executive Director Constance Steinkuehler, video game industry representatives and leading education experts, the inaugural event was a direct response to President Obama’s ConnectED initiative, an effort to empower educators with proper technology and digital content to enhance student’s learning experiences. 

“We’re bringing together people who are in different silos,” said Culatta. “We’re bringing them together because we need them to work together to answer some really persistent challenges in the education space that we think games really have the potential to solve.”

Click here to read EdSurge’s and Games + Learning’s recaps of the summit.