Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1316347
Thriving With Tech Compton teacher Jose Gonzalez guides students in STEAM O B O T S T O O K a road trip throughout Latin America this summer, courtesy of a group of Compton students and their teacher, Jose Gonzales. Well, technically, the robots explored various countries while rolling atop a large map on the floor of a classroom inside Bunche Middle School, controlled by stu- dents working remotely from home and connected on Zoom. Students had to research and answer questions about Latin American culture, geography and current events, and pro- gram their robots to journey forth based on the answers. For example, students had to name a famous poet from Chile (Pablo Neruda), identify the longest mountain range in South America (the Andes), and visit countries for sim- ulated COVID-related missions such as contact tracing in outbreak hotspots. This is one example of how Gonzalez, a Compton Educa- tion Association member, is refusing to let the pandemic short-circuit projects students love. Since distance learning went into effect, he has worked from his empty classroom so students can remotely take advantage of the cool gad- getry there. In addition to Latin America, students have focused on COVID-related projects closer to home. "We've received a lot of attention, including being featured on Good Morn- ing America," says Gonzales, who teaches STEAM (science, technology, engineer- ing, art and math) at Davis Middle School in Compton, a community where many students face challenges. "I love that minority kids who are traditionally underrepresented in STEAM are so interested in using technology to help their communities." Five years ago, Gonzalez created a Tech Team at Bunche Middle School with a grant from GenYES — a nonprofit that empowers underserved students through technology. His team supported staff by taking apart PCs and building new ones, troubleshooting computer issues, connecting printers and LCD projectors, and creating workshops for students about cyberbullying. Thanks to a grant from Verizon in 2017 that provided iPads for all students, staff and educational support, students transitioned to becoming innovators themselves. Projects included building a space plane that used a space simulator with real orbital dynamics; building a prototype rover to explore the surfaces of other worlds; building robots; creat- ing virtual reality goggles that offer a tour of Mars; and using code to simulate space radar. The Bunche "bunch" won local awards, placing third in the district's annual STEAM- Fest competition for their Mars Habitat Exhibit, which included a hydroponics system that utilized live fish waste to fertilize plants in a closed system for providing food to future astronauts. Team Captain Yerenia Barrajas was recognized nationally by GenYES for her leadership. Members visited UC Berkeley and a famous film studio nearby. Then the pandemic hit, and the team that met daily and most Saturdays at school could no longer meet in person. Gonzalez (upper right) had students learn geography, history and culture as they programmed and operated robot cars remotely. Jose Gonzalez CHAPTER Compton Education Association POSITION Middle school technology teacher R 21 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 21