Do your students have a project they would like to fund? The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) is launching a new initiative called “Think it Up” to invite public middle and high school students to work with their teachers to develop projects that draw on their passions and help pursue their educational goals. Posted on thinkitup.org in collaboration with DonorsChoose.org, the student-powered, teacher-led projects will be crowdfunded by citizen donors beginning this month.

The projects will entail rigorous skill development that prepares American youth for post-high school life, helping pave the way for career success, regardless of the path and aim to help create a culture of excitement about learning and build a sense of optimism about the changes underway in classrooms across the country.

Danielle Evansic, a teacher from Tehachapi High School (THS) is proud to announce that the school’s robotics team will be featured in the first nationwide telecast of “Think it Up” airing on Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC at 8PM on Friday, September 11th. THS robotics team was filmed in action – teaching code to elementary students; building, programming, and driving a 120-pound robot; using 3D modeling and printing; and working in small groups to brainstorm solutions for open-ended problems. 

Students, teachers and citizens across the U.S. can tune in to the televised special to learn about the initiative, how student-teacher teams can submit project ideas and request funding, and how the public can fund learning experiences through direct donations at thinkitup.org.

Special thanks to Danielle for offering her students an engaging experience with robotics and for sharing this exciting news!