WEBVTT 00:00:10.849 --> 00:00:13.550 Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host, 00:00:13.589 --> 00:00:16.329 Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my students and 00:00:16.329 --> 00:00:18.870 I bring you content that's informative, positive, 00:00:19.010 --> 00:00:21.809 fun and uplifting. This podcast is created and 00:00:21.809 --> 00:00:23.969 produced with the help of students from the International 00:00:23.969 --> 00:00:29.809 Community School of Bangkok. Hey, welcome back 00:00:29.809 --> 00:00:32.149 to the show. I'll start off with this question. 00:00:32.409 --> 00:00:35.170 What if the key to our children's future isn't 00:00:35.170 --> 00:00:38.140 just teaching them STEM? but also helping them 00:00:38.140 --> 00:00:40.159 understand and believe that they actually belong 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:42.859 in this world. We talk a lot about preparing 00:00:42.859 --> 00:00:45.539 students for the jobs of tomorrow, but how much 00:00:45.539 --> 00:00:48.320 of that preparation is psychological? How do 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:51.100 we build confidence, purpose, and a true sense 00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:54.820 of identity in science and technology? Today, 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:56.960 we're jumping into the world of project -based 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:59.460 learning and exploring how hands -on experience 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:02.579 is transforming the classroom from a place of 00:01:02.579 --> 00:01:06.019 theory into a launchpad for real -world careers. 00:01:06.340 --> 00:01:08.939 And we have the perfect guest to guide us. We're 00:01:08.939 --> 00:01:11.939 thrilled to welcome Dr. Jennifer Berry, the CEO 00:01:11.939 --> 00:01:15.159 of Smart Lab, a program that is revolutionizing 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:19.099 how K -12 students engage with STEM, which stands 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:22.450 for Science. technology, engineering, and mathematics, 00:01:22.750 --> 00:01:26.230 in case you were wondering. So stay with us as 00:01:26.230 --> 00:01:29.049 we discuss the future of education and how to 00:01:29.049 --> 00:01:32.109 empower the next generation of innovators. But 00:01:32.109 --> 00:01:33.829 first, let's hear our quote of the day and get 00:01:33.829 --> 00:01:36.189 some headline news. Our quote of the day comes 00:01:36.189 --> 00:01:39.310 from Albert Einstein. He said, education is not 00:01:39.310 --> 00:01:41.569 the learning of facts, but the training of the 00:01:41.569 --> 00:01:44.599 mind to think. Einstein's point is that STEM 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:47.340 and learning isn't just about memorizing formulas 00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:49.879 or facts. It's about developing problem solving 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:52.620 skills and ways of thinking that last a lifetime. 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:55.799 In STEM fields, knowledge evolves quickly, but 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:58.640 the ability to analyze, question and solve problems 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:01.540 will always be valuable. This means if you focus 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:03.980 on building critical thinking and long term skills, 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:06.879 you'll be prepared to adapt no matter how technology 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:09.879 or industries change. And that's our quote of 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:12.610 the day. Now on to some headline news. Thank 00:02:12.610 --> 00:02:14.849 you for our quote of the day. Now here's some 00:02:14.849 --> 00:02:17.509 headline news from around the world. Our first 00:02:17.509 --> 00:02:20.449 headline comes from Germany. In Munich, researchers 00:02:20.449 --> 00:02:23.310 at the Max Planck Institute have unveiled a new 00:02:23.310 --> 00:02:26.729 AI -powered smart lab assistant that can autonomously 00:02:26.729 --> 00:02:29.409 plan, conduct, and adjust chemicals experiments 00:02:29.409 --> 00:02:32.550 in real time. Designed for high -level research 00:02:32.550 --> 00:02:35.689 in materials, science, and pharmaceuticals, the 00:02:35.689 --> 00:02:38.509 assistant uses machine learning to optimize lab 00:02:38.509 --> 00:02:41.650 procedures and minimize trial and error. Early 00:02:41.650 --> 00:02:44.569 tests showed the system completing multi -step 00:02:44.569 --> 00:02:47.430 synthesis in half the time required by human 00:02:47.430 --> 00:02:50.629 researchers, while also reducing resource waste 00:02:50.629 --> 00:02:54.409 up to 40%. Experts say this represents a major 00:02:54.409 --> 00:02:57.250 step toward fully autonomous scientific laboratories. 00:02:58.250 --> 00:03:00.889 Our next headline comes from Kenya. At the University 00:03:00.889 --> 00:03:03.310 of Nairobi, a partnership between the African 00:03:03.310 --> 00:03:06.389 Center for Technology Studies and Smart Lab Africa 00:03:06.389 --> 00:03:09.349 has launched a new program to integrate AI and 00:03:09.349 --> 00:03:12.349 Internet of Things tools into environmental science 00:03:12.349 --> 00:03:15.870 education. Students are using real -time data 00:03:15.870 --> 00:03:18.969 from sensors in local wetlands to monitor pollution 00:03:18.969 --> 00:03:21.689 and climate impact, all within a newly built 00:03:21.689 --> 00:03:24.479 digital smart lab. The initiative aims to bring 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:26.680 the gap between academic learning and real -world 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:28.800 environmental challenges, empowering students 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:31.300 with the tools needed for data -driven sustainability 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:34.750 research. Our final headline comes from the United 00:03:34.750 --> 00:03:38.469 States. In Boston, Massachusetts, MIT Jameel 00:03:38.469 --> 00:03:41.830 World Education Lab has introduced a global fellowship 00:03:41.830 --> 00:03:44.969 program to train educators in designing AI -enabled 00:03:44.969 --> 00:03:47.870 smart learning environments. The program teaches 00:03:47.870 --> 00:03:50.250 participants how to integrate adaptive learning 00:03:50.250 --> 00:03:53.610 technologies, real -time feedback systems, and 00:03:53.610 --> 00:03:56.310 AI tutors into classrooms and university labs. 00:03:56.889 --> 00:03:59.909 More than 60 fellows from 22 countries have already 00:03:59.909 --> 00:04:02.650 completed the program, applying their new skills 00:04:02.650 --> 00:04:05.969 to modernize classroom and improve STEM outcomes 00:04:05.969 --> 00:04:09.349 in both urban and rural settings. And that ends 00:04:09.349 --> 00:04:13.270 our headline news for this episode. Thank you 00:04:13.270 --> 00:04:15.189 for the quote in the headline news. We are excited 00:04:15.189 --> 00:04:17.990 to welcome our guest, Dr. Jennifer Berry, CEO 00:04:17.990 --> 00:04:20.970 of Smart Lab, based in the United States of America. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:23.839 Before we dive into the specifics of Smart Lab, 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:26.300 our listeners would love to learn a little bit 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:29.420 more about the person behind the vision. So Proud, 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:32.180 why don't you kick off this first segment? Dr. 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:34.339 Berry, to start, can you tell us a bit about 00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:36.759 your background and what first sparked your passion 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:39.060 for connecting education with technology and 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:42.100 real -world careers? Oh, thank you so much. First 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:44.439 of all, thank you for having me. I'm so honored 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:47.420 to be here on the podcast with you. I'll tell 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:49.000 you a little bit about my background, but very 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.139 brief, right? So first of all, I'm an educator. 00:04:51.339 --> 00:04:53.480 I have my doctorate in education, but I also 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:56.620 have been in the education space for many, many 00:04:56.620 --> 00:05:03.120 decades. Also, I'm a mom. And as a mom... I see 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:04.920 the world my daughter is stepping into, right? 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:07.660 She's a 10 -year -old and AI is happening. Rapid 00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:10.000 change is happening. Big challenges are happening. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:13.879 And what I want mostly for her and what I want 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:16.560 for every student is to walk into that future, 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:19.439 into her future and saying, I've got this and 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:22.100 I can leave here, right? And so that personal 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:25.019 lens is what drives me. My background has always 00:05:25.019 --> 00:05:27.819 been at the intersection of education and innovation. 00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:30.759 Right. And I've seen the differences when students 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:34.699 move beyond just memory answers, but to actually 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:39.550 building, creating and solving. And what we call 00:05:39.550 --> 00:05:42.870 at Smart Lab, aha moments. So when students are 00:05:42.870 --> 00:05:45.230 in one of our Smart Labs and they have these 00:05:45.230 --> 00:05:48.470 aha moments, and if you have multiple aha moments, 00:05:48.589 --> 00:05:50.649 which are these sudden realizations that you 00:05:50.649 --> 00:05:52.569 get something, right? You've mastered that rigorous 00:05:52.569 --> 00:05:55.490 challenge. You failed at something enough that 00:05:55.490 --> 00:05:57.290 all of a sudden you have that aha of like, oh, 00:05:57.410 --> 00:05:59.589 I know how to figure that out. I know how to 00:05:59.589 --> 00:06:03.069 actually achieve that goal. That's when... a 00:06:03.069 --> 00:06:05.829 student, an individual realizes they belong and 00:06:05.829 --> 00:06:09.050 their ideas matter. So I really believe that 00:06:09.050 --> 00:06:13.810 my career, my history of education and innovation 00:06:13.810 --> 00:06:16.569 and that intersection and being a mom who cares 00:06:16.569 --> 00:06:18.470 about the future of my daughter and all students 00:06:18.470 --> 00:06:20.949 that are surrounded, like yourselves who are 00:06:20.949 --> 00:06:23.069 graduating and like others that are graduating, 00:06:23.430 --> 00:06:26.129 I'm really excited about being a part of that. 00:06:26.189 --> 00:06:29.699 And that is really... really how I see my background 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:32.579 and where my passion is for connecting education 00:06:32.579 --> 00:06:35.459 with technology and real world careers. I love 00:06:35.459 --> 00:06:38.160 that connection of personal. I need my kid to 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:41.319 be able to navigate the way through the world 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:45.139 that is presented to them. What about Smart Lab 00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:49.019 specifically inspired you to join us? Yeah, I 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:52.120 appreciate that question greatly because I've 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:55.319 spent my whole career in various education fields. 00:06:55.379 --> 00:06:58.079 Everything from and professional development, 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:01.759 to after school programs for low income youth 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:07.160 across the United States, to supplemental tutoring, 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:10.480 reading and writing. for students to really help 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.420 them and math to really help them progress in 00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:15.699 their career. I was also in the special education 00:07:15.699 --> 00:07:19.199 space. And when I found Smart Lab, that was really 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:23.540 where it all connected for me. Smart Lab is the 00:07:23.540 --> 00:07:26.600 full package. It's not just equipment and curriculum. 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:30.439 It's an entire ecosystem designed to build. what 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:34.660 we call STEM identity, right? So Smart Lab is 00:07:34.660 --> 00:07:37.600 more than just stuff that we sell. It's actually 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.040 where we are striving to get students to gain 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:43.560 their STEM identity. My STEM identity is that 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:47.199 they can feel like they belong. they can master 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:49.480 rigorous challenges and their ideas make an impact. 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:52.420 So many times people think of STEM as like, oh, 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:54.759 you're going to go into the STEM fields. You're 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:56.699 going to go into to be a scientist. You're going 00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:58.439 to be a technologist. You're going to be an engineer 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:01.279 or a mathematician. But we actually believe that 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.779 it's beyond that, right? It's beyond going into 00:08:03.779 --> 00:08:06.399 those fields. It's about knowing that you belong 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:09.420 with any STEM application that is in basically 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:13.259 every industry. Every industry uses STEM applications. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.720 And so when you feel like you belong with STEM 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:19.899 applications and in that same industry, you really 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:21.860 can believe that you master rigorous challenges 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:23.720 and your ideas make an impact. And that's very 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:26.120 exciting for me. And that's really what inspired 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.420 me to join because it was beyond just the stuff 00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:30.639 we sold and really about the impact for students 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.220 and the lives and the world that we're trying 00:08:32.220 --> 00:08:35.990 to create. I totally love that. So for our listeners 00:08:35.990 --> 00:08:38.370 who might be hearing about it for the first time, 00:08:38.490 --> 00:08:40.990 so can you please explain in simple terms what 00:08:40.990 --> 00:08:44.889 is Smart Lab and what does it do? Yeah, so I'll 00:08:44.889 --> 00:08:47.190 give you how we define the Smart Lab approach 00:08:47.190 --> 00:08:49.490 to start, and then I'll talk a little bit about 00:08:49.490 --> 00:08:54.269 our ecosystem. So we at Smart Lab focus on an 00:08:54.269 --> 00:08:58.230 integrated ecosystem that builds aha moments 00:08:58.230 --> 00:09:02.309 and sparks STEM identity in learners. So again, 00:09:02.490 --> 00:09:04.669 our why is that students are getting the STEM 00:09:04.669 --> 00:09:07.929 identity, that they can belong, their ideas make 00:09:07.929 --> 00:09:10.230 an impact, and they can master rigorous challenges. 00:09:10.610 --> 00:09:12.690 Then you say, okay, well, how do you do that? 00:09:12.750 --> 00:09:14.529 That's great, but how do you do that? And what 00:09:14.529 --> 00:09:17.649 we believe is this integrated ecosystem is key. 00:09:17.850 --> 00:09:20.750 And that integrated ecosystem is comprised of 00:09:20.750 --> 00:09:23.909 an environment for the students to explore in 00:09:23.909 --> 00:09:28.809 a hands -on, career -based, student -driven learning 00:09:28.809 --> 00:09:31.549 environment. There's curriculum that's curated 00:09:31.549 --> 00:09:33.769 for the students so that they can fail forward, 00:09:33.990 --> 00:09:38.350 right? There's certified facilitators where the 00:09:38.350 --> 00:09:40.730 certified facilitators really understand how 00:09:40.730 --> 00:09:42.610 to ensure that there's productive struggle so 00:09:42.610 --> 00:09:44.289 that they're not giving the students the answers 00:09:44.289 --> 00:09:47.409 or leading them to the answer, but that they 00:09:47.409 --> 00:09:50.269 are inspiring those students to make mistakes 00:09:50.269 --> 00:09:53.029 and to come up with their own solutions. And 00:09:53.029 --> 00:09:58.269 then lastly, there's this support and partnership, 00:09:58.450 --> 00:10:01.080 right? So we've got a whole team that supports 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:03.820 the ecosystem, but also that we're bringing the 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:06.860 community into the ecosystem so that the community 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:09.139 is really invested in ensuring these students 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:11.399 are also getting their STEM identity. So yes, 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:15.019 we sell stuff. And we sell a STEM learning environment. 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:18.000 But more importantly, we are inspired by this 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:21.399 integrated ecosystem where this integrated ecosystem 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:24.120 can actually catapult the STEM identity for learners. 00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:27.600 And every project that the students do are solving 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:30.840 real world problems and connecting learning to 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:34.019 actual career pathways. What would you say makes 00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:37.759 the smart lab experience the most different from 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.039 what students might find in a regular science 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:43.179 class or traditional computer lab? Oh, great 00:10:43.179 --> 00:10:46.820 question. In my experience, in the years that 00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:49.240 I've been in education, in a traditional classroom, 00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:52.159 students are often following a script, right? 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:55.639 Step one, step two, step three. In Smart Lab, 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.259 they're designing their own solutions. They're 00:10:58.259 --> 00:11:01.240 collaborating with peers. They're iterating until 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:04.059 it works. Failure isn't the end. It's part of 00:11:04.059 --> 00:11:07.120 the process. So that shift of instead of just 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:10.860 like memorizing or rote memorization or tests, 00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:14.159 it's really about. In tests, you want to, and 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.820 your students, you want to actually succeed. 00:11:15.940 --> 00:11:17.740 You want to get the A. You want to get the highest 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:21.500 score. But in Smart Lab, actually failure isn't 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:23.580 the end. It's actually part of the process. This 00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:26.860 shift builds confidence, resilience, and creativity. 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:29.639 It's not about memorizing the answers. It's about 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:32.620 learning how to think, to solve, and to innovate. 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:35.559 Because as people say, like we make mistakes 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:38.600 and it teaches us to. So I think that's a really 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:42.580 good like lessons to learn to. And since you 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:44.460 mentioned about the connection to real world 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:47.179 applications, how exactly does a smart lab help 00:11:47.179 --> 00:11:49.899 students prepare for actual careers that are 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:54.220 in high demand right now? Yeah. So careers today. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:57.080 Right. And careers that haven't even been invented 00:11:57.080 --> 00:12:01.389 yet. Whether it's AI, clean energy, healthcare, 00:12:01.789 --> 00:12:04.149 advanced manufacturing, arts and entertainment, 00:12:04.429 --> 00:12:06.269 you can name a ton of different industries and 00:12:06.269 --> 00:12:09.809 a ton of different careers. All of these careers, 00:12:09.950 --> 00:12:12.529 especially now with the AI -powered world we 00:12:12.529 --> 00:12:16.299 live in, require people who can adapt. people 00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:18.860 that can learn quickly and people that can solve 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:21.940 complex problems. Because gone are the days where 00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:24.259 you actually needed to know how to code, where 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:26.320 you need to know how to do basic applications, 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:28.679 because AI can actually do those things for you. 00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:31.940 So the reality is what Smart Lab gives the students 00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:36.019 to do, the ability to do, is to think above the 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:39.490 task and to really... Think about how do I adapt? 00:12:39.750 --> 00:12:42.250 How do I learn quickly? How do I solve complex 00:12:42.250 --> 00:12:45.710 problems? Right. A smart lab gives students practice 00:12:45.710 --> 00:12:47.970 and those kind of skills. Of course, they're 00:12:47.970 --> 00:12:50.129 coding, they're building prototypes or analyzing 00:12:50.129 --> 00:12:52.750 data. They're learning to work in teams just 00:12:52.750 --> 00:12:55.149 like they'll do in the workforce. But we're not 00:12:55.149 --> 00:12:57.230 just preparing them for the job. We're preparing 00:12:57.230 --> 00:13:00.330 them to lead in an AI powered, rapidly changing, 00:13:00.330 --> 00:13:02.730 rapidly changing world, because there's a difference 00:13:02.730 --> 00:13:05.590 between knowing how to code something and how 00:13:05.590 --> 00:13:09.840 to lead in an environment where. To make that 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:11.899 a little more concrete for us, could you share 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:14.759 an example of a hands -on project that students 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:17.519 might work on in a smart lab? Yeah, so this is, 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:21.000 you know, this is going to sound very... small 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:22.860 potatoes. But this is what I think is really 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:25.460 exciting. So we've got this curriculum that is 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:28.340 small potatoes. I see you mouthing that. This 00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:31.120 is a piece of curriculum that we're really proud 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.179 of because it starts actually with five -year 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.659 -olds. So this actually starts with kindergarten 00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:38.240 students. So we teach kindergarten. We go K through 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.559 12, but we teach kindergartens. We call it Harvest 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.820 Holler. And what these kindergartners are learning 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:44.860 is how to code at five years old, four and five 00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:46.460 years old. They're learning how to code. But 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.940 they're learning how to code at the most simplest 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:50.409 level, right? So they're putting down these tiles. 00:13:50.549 --> 00:13:53.529 It means stop. Green means go. Yellow means pause. 00:13:53.769 --> 00:13:55.710 Like an arrow this way means turn right, turn 00:13:55.710 --> 00:13:57.649 left. And they're laying them down and learning 00:13:57.649 --> 00:14:00.309 like, oh, if I put these in this order, this 00:14:00.309 --> 00:14:03.029 is how the car will move. Right. But we go beyond 00:14:03.029 --> 00:14:05.350 that for even kindergartners. So we say to them, 00:14:05.450 --> 00:14:08.889 hey, there's an industry where you might need 00:14:08.889 --> 00:14:12.799 to code a self -driving car. and create that 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.740 self and ensure that that self -driving car gets 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:18.120 from point A to point B. Okay, let's go even 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:19.960 beyond that. You're five years old. We want to 00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:22.539 talk about what it means to go from a farm to 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:25.519 table, right? Get the food from a farm and get 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:27.940 it to a farmer's market. Get it to a grocery 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:30.899 store. Get it in the hands of consumers, right? 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:32.759 So now you've got this five -year -old going, 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.779 oh, I thought food just was in my refrigerator. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.179 I didn't know it actually came from a farm and 00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:39.639 that somebody had to drive something from the 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:43.230 farm to the... the store, right? Now you're getting 00:14:43.230 --> 00:14:46.250 the student to think differently about the reason 00:14:46.250 --> 00:14:48.490 why they're learning to code, right? So they're 00:14:48.490 --> 00:14:50.929 learning to code, but they're learning to code 00:14:50.929 --> 00:14:53.429 for a point, for a purpose. So they're thinking, 00:14:53.549 --> 00:14:57.070 oh, I need to code, but I'm learning how to code, 00:14:57.070 --> 00:14:58.830 but I'm learning how to code to actually get 00:14:58.830 --> 00:15:03.309 food from the farm. to the store, to a farmer's 00:15:03.309 --> 00:15:06.470 market, to a home. And there's this really great 00:15:06.470 --> 00:15:08.610 thing right now, which is a self -driving car. 00:15:08.789 --> 00:15:10.889 So I have the ability to code that self -driving 00:15:10.889 --> 00:15:14.149 car and to lead and manage maybe a team that 00:15:14.149 --> 00:15:17.090 is coding a self -driving car to get from point 00:15:17.090 --> 00:15:19.090 A to point B. So they're building connections 00:15:19.090 --> 00:15:21.899 even at five years old. And they're building 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:25.740 connections to real world careers, even at five 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:29.460 years old, which to me is really the difference 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:31.559 between how to do something and connecting it 00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:33.759 to their future, right? And then of course, over 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.419 time, when we go to first grade, second grade, 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:37.019 third grade, all the way up to senior in high 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:39.960 school, we're scaffolding that, right? You go 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:42.159 from just coding on the floor to now you're building 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:44.659 a robot that has sensors. And now you're building 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:47.360 a robot that can think on its own with AI applications. 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:50.679 So it scaffolds as they grow and as they age. 00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:53.340 But we're really proud of really making sure 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:56.039 that everything we design has real world connections 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:58.240 to it. And we're giving those students those 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:01.159 aha moments beyond I know how to do something, 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:03.399 but also I know how to do something. And it's 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:05.080 applicable in this real world and potentially 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:07.799 even a future career for me. Wow. Thank you very 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:10.340 much. That's a powerful example. It's incredible 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:12.679 to think about how a single project can build 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:15.360 not just knowledge, but genuine confidence and 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.190 purpose. We're going to pause there for a quick 00:16:18.190 --> 00:16:20.529 break. When we come back, we'll dive into the 00:16:20.529 --> 00:16:23.149 challenges facing STEM education and look forward 00:16:23.149 --> 00:16:25.929 to the future of learning. So stay with us. We'll 00:16:25.929 --> 00:16:28.090 be right back after this short PSA announcement. 00:16:29.309 --> 00:16:35.629 As we talk about the future of education, it's 00:16:35.629 --> 00:16:38.009 worth asking, how do our kids really learn best? 00:16:38.330 --> 00:16:40.870 We know that students can lose interest in science 00:16:40.870 --> 00:16:42.710 and math when they don't see how it connects 00:16:42.710 --> 00:16:45.389 to their lives. The facts and figures feel distant, 00:16:45.629 --> 00:16:48.929 and their curiosity fades. But what if we turned 00:16:48.929 --> 00:16:51.429 learning into an adventure? That's the core idea 00:16:51.429 --> 00:16:54.110 behind project -based learning. Instead of just 00:16:54.110 --> 00:16:56.690 memorizing a formula, students use it to build 00:16:56.690 --> 00:16:59.289 a model rocket. Instead of reading about ecosystems, 00:16:59.750 --> 00:17:02.289 they design and build a small terrarium to sustain 00:17:02.289 --> 00:17:05.099 life. The hands -on approach teaches collaboration, 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:08.000 resilience, and creative problem solving. It 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:10.039 transforms the classroom into a workshop for 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.940 innovation, showing students that they have the 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:14.220 power to solve the real -world challenges of 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.740 tomorrow. You can be a champion for this kind 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:19.039 of learning. Ask your local schools about their 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.579 STEM programs, volunteer for a science fair, 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:24.099 or simply ask a young person in your life about 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:26.200 a project they're excited about. Your support 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:28.460 and curiosity can help build the next generation 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:34.359 of thinkers, creators, and leaders. And we are 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:37.079 back with our second part. Welcome back. We're 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:40.039 here with Dr. Jennifer Berry of Smart Lab discussing 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:42.880 how we can better prepare students for the careers 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:45.539 of tomorrow. Before the break, we talked about 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:48.200 what a Smart Lab is and the power of hands -on 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:51.319 projects. Now, let's zoom out a bit and look 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:53.920 at the bigger picture. Josiah will start us off 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:56.859 with this segment. Dr. Berry, from your perspective, 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.400 what is the single biggest challenge that teachers 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:01.839 and schools face when trying to implement effective 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:04.900 STEM education today? Thank you for that really 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:08.279 insightful question. You know, I think the biggest 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:12.339 challenge today in the education space is often 00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:16.099 capacity. Teachers are stretched really thin. 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:20.400 Resources are limited. The pace of change in 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:23.420 technology is happening at lightning speed, and 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:27.869 it can be overwhelming. Schools really desperately 00:18:27.869 --> 00:18:30.549 want to prepare students for the future, but 00:18:30.549 --> 00:18:32.509 it can be almost impossible to keep up right 00:18:32.509 --> 00:18:35.029 now, right? And that's why having a partner like 00:18:35.029 --> 00:18:37.910 Smart Lab matters, right? We make turnkey and 00:18:37.910 --> 00:18:42.650 sustainable ecosystems, right? So that teachers 00:18:42.650 --> 00:18:45.369 can focus on guiding the students rather than 00:18:45.369 --> 00:18:47.450 trying to keep up with the technology, right? 00:18:47.529 --> 00:18:51.669 Because teachers and educators will say, desperately 00:18:51.669 --> 00:18:54.390 want to guide students, to help them get their 00:18:54.390 --> 00:18:56.789 own aha moments, to help them learn and connect 00:18:56.789 --> 00:18:59.930 it to real worlds. And yet they're themselves 00:18:59.930 --> 00:19:01.849 trying to Google in the background, trying to 00:19:01.849 --> 00:19:03.869 learn about the new STEM applications, to try 00:19:03.869 --> 00:19:06.150 to figure out how fast and how they can use AI 00:19:06.150 --> 00:19:08.289 in their classrooms or not in their classroom. 00:19:08.410 --> 00:19:10.190 Can we use it? Can we not use it? Can students 00:19:10.190 --> 00:19:12.150 use it? Can they not use it, right? This fast 00:19:12.150 --> 00:19:14.750 changing environment can be overwhelming. And 00:19:14.750 --> 00:19:17.180 so we try to take... that part out of it and 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:21.019 instead give the educator the ability to guide 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:23.279 the students rather than worried about if they're 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:26.220 keeping up with the technology. So like with 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:28.400 that challenge in mind, how do you measure the 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:31.339 success or impact of a program like Smart Lab? 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:33.799 Like is it just test scores or are you looking 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:36.220 at other indicators like students' confidence 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:39.980 and engagement in class? Yeah, so we absolutely 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:43.740 look beyond test scores, right? For us, success 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:46.480 looks like a student saying, I didn't think I 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:49.960 could do that, but now I know I can, right? Now 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.980 that's hard to measure. I didn't think I could 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:54.480 do that, but now I know I can. But you can because 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:57.180 you can talk to the students before they start 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:59.759 in a STEM learning environment and ask them, 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:02.380 how confident are you at being able to master 00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:05.500 rigorous challenges? How do you see your own 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:08.900 STEM identity? Do you feel like you belong? dealing 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:11.180 with STEM applications as it applies to real 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:13.559 world careers, right? Then you can measure them 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:16.599 along the way in that smart lab journey or in 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:19.299 any kind of STEM education journey and say, do 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:21.420 you feel differently now? Now that you've had 00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:23.680 exposure, now that you've practiced, now that 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:26.220 you've failed forward, you failed and then you've 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:28.720 succeeded, you've had multiple aha moments. Do 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:32.400 you now feel like you are different in the way 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:34.960 you think? Do you think you couldn't do this 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:38.079 and now you can? So you can measure that through 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:41.119 surveys and through asking students their own 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:44.720 perspective on how they started and how they're 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:47.450 now finished. Right. Or their journey throughout 00:20:47.450 --> 00:20:50.849 the process. So it is about engagement and collaboration 00:20:50.849 --> 00:20:54.230 and perseverance and the ability to connect their 00:20:54.230 --> 00:20:57.069 learning to real world challenges. Right. So, 00:20:57.150 --> 00:20:59.849 of course, schools need to track academic outcomes. 00:21:00.049 --> 00:21:02.109 That's necessary. They have to track academic 00:21:02.109 --> 00:21:05.009 outcomes. But the deeper measure is whether students 00:21:05.009 --> 00:21:09.009 walk away with STEM identity and that's the mindset 00:21:09.009 --> 00:21:11.529 that they belong and they can thrive in a future 00:21:11.529 --> 00:21:14.569 that demands innovation. I like the before and 00:21:14.569 --> 00:21:18.619 after. Shifting to creativity, some people might 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:21.920 see technology as very rigid, but what role do 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:24.259 you see it playing in unlocking a student's creativity? 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:28.720 Unlocking a student's creativity is like music 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:32.220 to my ears, right? Technology is actually a canvas, 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:35.319 right? It's the paintbrush, not the painting. 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:39.119 When students use tech as a tool to explore their 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:41.660 ideas, whether it's coding a game, designing 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:44.640 an app, building a drone, producing a film, doing 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:49.880 a podcast, it unlocks creativity. You all sitting 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:54.339 in this podcast scenario are learning skills, 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:57.519 but also your brain is opened up to creative 00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:00.460 aspects beyond this room that you're sitting 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:02.900 in. It shifts from just consuming technology. 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:06.220 to creating with technology. And that's where 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:09.279 I believe the magic happens, right? We at Smart 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:12.000 Lab think about STEM applications is just the 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:15.099 means to the end. Using STEM applications to 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:19.579 connect to career connections and to connect 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:22.279 to industries. If you think about it, all industries 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:24.880 use STEM applications. Every industry, right? 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:29.059 From collecting data, analyzing data. right? 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:31.900 Maybe interviewing and communicating with others 00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:35.079 outside of just texting or using social media, 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:38.039 right? Those are skills. Those are STEM skills. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:40.839 And those STEM skills are in every single industry 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:45.779 that there is. So I think that students, again, 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:51.000 should see technology as the paintbrush, not 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.519 the painting. And when they use that to explore 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:56.200 their ideas, you know, anything is possible. 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:59.660 Looking ahead, so what excites you with the most 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:02.220 about the future of learning and education over 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:05.420 the next decades? Yeah, so the next decade and 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:08.240 beyond, what I'm excited about in the education 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:11.220 space is that students are in the driving seat. 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:14.940 It's not about the educators. It's not about 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:18.839 the parents. It's not about the government and 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:21.740 whoever's dictating what the government decides 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:25.140 for students, but that students get to be in 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:27.690 the driver's seat. Right. We talked about AI 00:23:27.690 --> 00:23:29.950 a lot in this podcast. Right. And for example, 00:23:30.049 --> 00:23:33.150 that's changing everything. Right. Students who 00:23:33.150 --> 00:23:36.730 learn to have AI serve them, not the other way 00:23:36.730 --> 00:23:40.009 around, will be the leaders of the future. Right. 00:23:40.069 --> 00:23:42.329 Many people are scared. Many adults are scared 00:23:42.329 --> 00:23:45.170 of AI. Students are not. Students are not scared 00:23:45.170 --> 00:23:48.829 of it. Right. Because they are learning how AI 00:23:48.829 --> 00:23:51.089 can serve them. And they're going to be the leaders. 00:23:51.230 --> 00:23:53.569 And that really excites me. Those are going to 00:23:53.569 --> 00:23:56.279 be the leaders of the future. I'm thrilled. to 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:59.200 imagine classrooms where creativity, problem 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:02.380 solving, and human connection are amplified by 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:05.599 technology, not diminished by it. Speaking of 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:08.220 the future, what is the biggest and most immediate 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:11.079 goal for Smart Lab right now? What are you and 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:15.079 your team focused on? Yeah, our focus is to scale, 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:18.779 but with integrity. We're working to bring as 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:22.609 many Smart Labs to more communities. but making 00:24:22.609 --> 00:24:24.769 sure that we're delivering it with high quality. 00:24:24.890 --> 00:24:29.150 We are not just curriculum. We are not just furniture 00:24:29.150 --> 00:24:34.589 or pools or... or stem applications we really 00:24:34.589 --> 00:24:36.950 are an integrated ecosystem where a student can 00:24:36.950 --> 00:24:40.049 thrive so our immediate goal is to make sure 00:24:40.049 --> 00:24:43.269 we are creating and curating life -changing experiences 00:24:43.269 --> 00:24:46.190 for students this means continually focusing 00:24:46.190 --> 00:24:48.410 on refining our curriculum ensuring we have the 00:24:48.410 --> 00:24:51.750 most current updated tools and equipment to make 00:24:51.750 --> 00:24:53.930 sure we're training the educators that are going 00:24:53.930 --> 00:24:56.269 to be serving these students and and creating 00:24:56.269 --> 00:24:58.890 a community where they too the educators can 00:24:58.890 --> 00:25:01.119 learn and grow and they can fail and they can 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:03.099 have their own aha moments because sometimes 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:05.440 when educators think they know it all that's 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.119 where we fail students so when educators feel 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:10.380 like they're learning they're growing they're 00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:12.240 making mistakes they're going oh that didn't 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:14.599 work how am i going to come to the next day with 00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:17.339 my students and have and listen to the students 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:19.240 and maybe have the students solve the problem 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:21.680 rather than me think i'm the expert that's where 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:24.759 we really are focusing our attention as an organization 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:27.460 we want to make sure that no matter what the 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:30.369 zip code or the country that a student lives 00:25:30.369 --> 00:25:32.549 in, that they have a chance to see themselves 00:25:32.549 --> 00:25:35.369 as future ready. So this has been an incredibly 00:25:35.369 --> 00:25:38.890 insightful conversation. So for our final question, 00:25:39.109 --> 00:25:41.269 we would like to shift some gears and make it 00:25:41.269 --> 00:25:44.250 a personal one. So if you could go back in time, 00:25:44.329 --> 00:25:46.569 what is one piece of advice you would give to 00:25:46.569 --> 00:25:51.450 your younger self? My younger self, I would tell 00:25:51.450 --> 00:25:55.849 myself to trust the process and don't be afraid 00:25:55.849 --> 00:26:00.490 to fail. It's really hard, especially when you're 00:26:00.490 --> 00:26:03.470 young and you have all kinds of expectations 00:26:03.470 --> 00:26:06.849 with grades for sport, you know, being the best 00:26:06.849 --> 00:26:11.029 athlete or being the best musician or having 00:26:11.029 --> 00:26:13.230 the highest grades in order to get into the highest 00:26:13.230 --> 00:26:15.930 level of the university of your choice or career 00:26:15.930 --> 00:26:19.670 of your choice. I would I look back and think 00:26:19.670 --> 00:26:22.509 I would want to tell myself, don't be afraid 00:26:22.509 --> 00:26:25.400 to fail. Because failure actually leads to growth, 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:27.700 right? Some of my best lessons and some of the 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:30.660 best opportunities came from moments that weren't 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:34.460 planned, right? I didn't plan the journey. I 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:37.980 actually fell into it or change got in my face 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:41.099 or a hardship was put in my way, an obstacle 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:44.759 was dropped in front of me where I had a plan 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:47.299 and then this obstacle dropped. Some of my best 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:50.539 moments, some of my best opportunities came from 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:54.940 those challenges, right? tell myself, keep showing 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:58.559 up, right? Keep learning. I am an old lady in 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.960 comparison to most of these people listening 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:04.099 to this call right now. And yet I love to learn. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:07.019 Every day I learn from young people. I learn 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:10.259 from my seniors. I learn from the people who 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:12.720 have been here before. I really learn from different 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:15.559 cultures. I open myself up to people that are 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:17.240 different and don't look like me, that don't 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:19.279 think like me, that don't pray like me, that 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:22.619 don't eat like me, that don't do any of the things 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:25.059 that like me because that's where I get my biggest 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:27.720 learnings, right? Keep believing in your ability 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:31.619 to make an impact. Your path can unfold if you 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:34.920 don't owe the script. And there you have it. 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:37.299 That's the perfect note to end on. Thank you 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:39.759 so much for sharing your passion and your expertise 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:43.019 with us today, Dr. Berry. It's been truly inspiring 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:46.640 and encouraging. So if you're listening out there, 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:50.380 go check out smartlablearning .com to find out 00:27:50.380 --> 00:28:00.619 for yourself. And that's all the time we have 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:03.299 for today. My biggest takeaway from our conversation 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:05.880 with Dr. Berry is that the future of education 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:09.440 isn't just about what our students learn, but 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:11.819 how they learn it. It's about moving beyond facts 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:15.359 and formulas to build a true STEM identity, giving 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:17.720 students the confidence to believe that they 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:20.299 belong and that they can solve the problems of 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:22.940 tomorrow. A huge thank you to our guest, Dr. 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:25.660 Jennifer Berry again, for sharing her passion 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:28.700 and expertise with us. You can learn more about 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:32.119 the great work her team is doing at smartlablearning 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:35.180 .com. Most of all, thank you for listening. If 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:37.599 you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe wherever 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:40.819 you get your podcast. And as always, this podcast 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:43.079 would not be possible without the hard work and 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:45.019 support of our international student production 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:47.400 team. All music and sound effects are courtesy 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:51.059 of pixabay .com, a vibrant community of creatives 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:54.180 sharing copyright -free images, videos, and music. 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:57.400 And we're signing off until next time. We are 00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:59.740 Students Incorporated because your voice matters.