4H Robotics: Empowers young people with skills to lead for life

Robotics
Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For a research-based experience where where young people learn by watching and doing (in-person or online) through resources (ie. videos/booklets) provided by recognized universities. In,1800's adult farmers didn't readily accept new agricultural developments but young people welcomed new ideas, sharing it with adults. This birthed rural youth programs to introduce new agriculture tech in communities; 4-H was one of them. Their Robotics program is a partnership with 4H and National Geographic. It includes STEM, engineering, problem-solving, and robot-building of course! It can be used alongside National Geographic’s film, Robots 3D. The robotics program includes complete kids, curriculum and supplies. Some of the most popular kits include the “Build-A-Boat” Activity and the Junk Drawer Bundle. Families report that the program has inspired their kids to develop their own projects at home using junk they find in the kitchen junk drawer.

Grades: 1st-6th

Cost: Robotics Kits Cost between $10-189

OTHER DETAILS

Key features

Type of Tool: Website, Youtube channel

Time required: Kids experience 4H in every county and parish in the country through in-school and after-school programs, school and community clubs and 4‑H camps. Now, with COVID-19, they also have access to online resources, hence depending on the manner in which they participate in 4H, their time will differ, generally from (+/-) 1 hour.

Special Needs:

Literacy Requirement (does a child need to know how to read):

Screens

Screens:  In the times of COVID-19, 4-H has made additional audio and video resources available on their website for students to use from home. However, he FOURWARD Fund wil alsol support youth across all communities, with or without internet access, to ensure all kids have access to the necessary resources and meaningful learning opportunities as the crisis grows.

Online requirement:

Time

Parent/Caregiver Involvement: Parent/teacher/caregiver involvement is necessary to use this tool.

Prep Time:  Significant prep time

Other characteristics

Modality: Audiovisual, Multimedia

Adaptive: Yes, it includes personalization

Educational Philosophy: Not really, doesn't seem to be influenced by a particular educational philosophy

Other characteristics:   Hands-on, Project-based, Self-directed learning, Interdisciplinary, STEAM, STEM, Inclusive of diverse viewpoints and perspectives, Fun and entertaining

Accountability

Assessment: unsure

State Standards: 4-H is led by a unique private-public partnership of universities, federal and local government agencies, foundations and professional associations.

Teacher Accounts:

Read Reviews: https://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2012/03/4-h-robotics.html

Purchase:  https://4-h.org/parents/stem-agriculture/robotics/

Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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