RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Google is teaming up with Betabox Learning, a leading provider of mobile STEM labs, to launch a STEM tour of North Carolina school districts. The tour will visit schools across the state and provide hands-on learning experiences for students in grades K-12.
The tour will kick off on March 11 with an event at the MLK Center in Lenoir, NC (313 Greenhaven Drive NW, Lenoir, NC 28645–home of Google’s NC-based data center. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include free food from area food trucks (for the first 300 attendees) and other activities for the whole family. Parking is limited at the MLK Center, and a shuttle will run from satellite parking at the Freedman Cultural Center (312-398 Greenhaven Dr. NW, Lenoir, NC 28645).
The partnership aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technologists by directly bringing the latest in computer science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to the classroom.
Betabox Learning directly brings hands-on experiential learning opportunities to schools with mobile STEM labs. The company’s labs have the latest technology to engage students in hands-on, project-based learning. Google’s investment in this tour increases the accessibility of Betabox STEM experiences, building upon the success of Betabox Learning’s existing STEM programs in North Carolina, which operate in 30 districts in partnership with NCDPI and the General Assembly.
The STEM tour will conduct a tour of Caldwell County Schools throughout March and early April. These stops will include the following:
- Monday, March 13 – Tuesday, March 14
Gamewell Middle School – 3210 Gamewell School Rd, Lenoir, NC 28645
8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. - Wednesday, March 15 – Thursday, March 16
Hudson Middle School – 291 Pine Mountain Rd, Hudson, NC 28638
7:50 a.m. – 2:20 p.m - Thursday, March 30 – Friday, March 31
William Lenoir Middle School – 1366 Wildcat Trail, Lenoir, NC 28645
8:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Monday, April 3 – Tuesday, April 4
Granite Falls Middle School – 90 N Main St, Granite Falls, NC 28630
8:00 a.m. – 2:25 p.m. - Wednesday, April 5
K8 Schools at William Lenoir Middle – 1366 Wildcat Trail, Lenoir, NC 28645
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Thursday, April 6
Gateway School – 1889 Dudley Shoals Rd, Granite Falls, NC 28630
9:00 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.
These school events will allow students to participate in various interactive activities and experiments, including coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, and 3D printing.
After completing its tour of Caldwell County, the Betabox will tour other NC school districts to be announced later.
Google and Betabox Learning hope this tour will inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields and help close the gap in the number of women and underrepresented groups/populations in these fields.
The STEM tour is part of Google’s ongoing education and workforce development commitment. The company has also launched initiatives such as Google for Education, which provides teachers with free tools, resources, and training. SAS and the NC Business Committee for Education support the tour.
For more information about the STEM tour, please visit https://betaboxlearning.com/google/.
