Black Youth in STEM provides an engaging and welcoming virtual experience via Zoom. 

Our virtual academic support and mentorship program provides students with tutorial-style sessions on Sundays, aimed at enhancing scientific knowledge, competence, and confidence in Black youth. These sessions support cognitive development in core STEM disciplines while also addressing students' socio-affective well-being. Each virtual workshop is facilitated by a trained educator and scientist, and a graduate engineering student with industrial experience, to provide a balanced outlook on how the workshop content is applied in science and engineering fields. 

Guidelines 

After registering, we encourage parents to help their child(ren) become familiar with Zoom to ensure a smooth session. This preparation will allow us to provide effective remote technical support. A unique Zoom link for each session will be emailed to parents one or two days in advance. 

Online Safety and Expectations 

In our first session, we will review the rules to create a safe and respectful environment. We will use the following Zoom features to ensure safety: 

  • Participants must display their full name in the Zoom name box. 
  • Inappropriate language will lead to a warning and, if continued, muting of the microphone. We will remind participants to use respectful language. 
  • If the private chat feature is misused, it will be disabled. 
  • In the event of cyberbullying, parents/guardians will be notified via email. 
  • For security, the Zoom link should not be shared outside the registered families. 

Parent/Guardian Involvement 

While we are excited to offer this virtual workshop, we recognize that it does not replace the in-person environment. A parent or guardian must be present throughout the session. 

Please assist your child(ren) with accessing the Zoom session, preparing a learning space, and setting up the required supplies from the STEM kit. 

If your child(ren) moves away from the webcam or disengages, we will: 

  • Attempt to get their attention by asking aloud. 
  • Notify parents/guardians by text, email, or phone. 

We also ask parents/guardians to monitor their child’s participation. If your child(ren) will not attend a session, please inform us in advance. 

Preparing Your Learning Space

  • Set up a device (laptop, desktop, or tablet) with a webcam and microphone in a well-lit space with a flat surface. 
  • Activities may get messy (e.g., using glue and water), so protect surfaces with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth. 
  • Keep a recycling bin or trash can nearby for clean-up at the end of the session. 
  • Ensure the space is near an outlet if using a low-temperature hot glue gun. 
  • Provide your child(ren) with a water bottle that has a lid/closure to minimize disruptions. 

STEM Kits and Supplies 

We will provide safe, non-toxic supplies when needed. Please ensure these supplies are used only during the session, as we cannot provide replacements if they are used ahead of time. Familiarize yourself and your child(ren) with the contents before the session. Small objects may pose a choking hazard and should be used under supervision. 

Thank you for your cooperation!