SMART Lab Facilitator - School Age
Job Description
Operation Breakthrough is a not-for-profit organization that helps children who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment. Operation Breakthrough strives to support and empower the children’s families through advocacy, referral services, and emergency aid.
Position Summary
The Smart Lab Zone Facilitator provides hands-on instruction in engineering, coding, and robotics to students in Operation Breakthrough’s K-8th Grade School Age Program. The facilitator will design hands-on lessons and activities that help students apply academic knowledge and build new skills as coders and roboticists. During the 8:30-5:30 workday, the facilitator will teach several school-day classes and an after-school class.
Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree in a STEM field, Education, or a related discipline or equivalent experience
- Prior experience in an educational setting, such as a formal classroom, informal learning center, or after-school program.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and passion for STEM subjects.
- Excellent communication, public speaking, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences of all ages.
- Proven ability to lead hands-on, project-based activities.
- Strong organizational skills, including time management and multitasking.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Ability to work with a diverse group of children
- Flexibility and adaptability to handle changing circumstances.
Responsibilities
- Lead hands-on instruction with students of different ages (5-13) and skill levels.
- Design lesson plans that align to core curricular skills students are learning in math, ELA, science, and social studies.
- Teach students to program a variety of robots including: Bee Bots, Sphero robots, Pro-Bots, Mbots, Seeker robots, Spike Prime robots, and more.
- Teach students to create projects on computers using block based codes and a variety of websites/apps such as: Code.org, Scratch, Minecraft EDU, Code Cubes, and more
- Engage students in meaningful engineering projects using Lego, K’nex, Zoob, blocks, and other materials to create a necessary tool, attachment, or contraption.
- Teach students the basics of 3D design and 3D printing using TinkerCAD.
- Introduce students to text-based coding languages such as Javascript and Python.
- Engage in professional learning and research to stay current with coding and robotics technologies and to develop new lessons.
- Establish procedures that promote proper handling, maintenance, and organization of materials in the Smart Lab.
- Supervise students in a computer lab setting, ensuring safety and engagement
- Engage in the troubleshooting process with students in order to help them solve basic debugging problems.
- Instructional Support and Mentoring:
- Create a supportive and encouraging learning environment that motivates participants to experiment, ask questions, and think creatively.
- Mentor students, offer guidance, and foster positive peer relationships within the program.
- Observe student progress and provide constructive feedback to help them develop confidence and critical thinking skills.
- Collaboration and Communication:
- Work closely with lab facilitators, and other staff to align activities with program goals.
- Communicate with parents, teachers, and other stakeholders about program goals, student progress, and upcoming events.
- Collaborate with local industry and academic partners to enrich program content.
- Administrative and Safety:
- Organize and maintain all necessary materials, equipment, and supplies for activities.
- Ensure all safety protocols are followed during activities, especially those involving lab equipment or tools.
- Assist with collecting feedback, tracking program attendance, and reporting on outcomes.
- Professional Growth:
- Stay current with best practices in STEM education and new developments in the field.
- Participate in professional development training and ongoing facilitator meetings.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Indoor and outdoor classrooms or attending field trips.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of an employee.
Operation Breakthrough is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with Operation Breakthrough is “At Will”.