This Program is designed for ages 8 to 15
This new program is brought to you by the STEAM Learning Center, the children’s educational center of the Iowa City Fab Lab.
A series of interactive workshops taught by mathematical modeling expert Dr. Sneha Bhansali.
Dr. Sneha Bhansali has spent the last decade traveling to different parts of the world to learn and develop a more intuitive, experiential grasp of mathematical education. She has worked as a math instructor for numerous summer camps and workshops for students across a wide range of different programming environments, from gifted students to marginalized schools and all ages from 2nd grade to graduate students.
As part of her Ph.D., she extensively worked with elementary pre-service teachers through classes she designed, taught herself, and co-taught with other teachers in the target schools. These classes were modified for the needs of the students so they could learn through their unique learning styles through daily check-ins and adaptations between the teachers. This means that the students themselves learned in their own personal style, instead of having a forced method they needed to conform to like the curriculums in US based schools.
Sneha also conducted needs-based and holistic professional
development for in-service K-12 mathematics teachers and college instructors in both the US and India and her Ph.D. dissertation focused on mathematics teacher learning and development within the context of alternative schools. She had a particular interest in how teachers conceptualize the alternative form of schooling and adapt themselves to teach in the mathematics classroom in a holistic school setting in India.
Starting Monday, May 6th
Topology through Paper Bending
Hexaflexagons are mathematical objects that involve folding paper to create a shape with hidden faces. Through folding, cutting, and decorating paper strips, participants unlock hidden patterns and mathematical properties while experiencing the magic of flexing their personalized hexaflexagons to reveal concealed faces. Möbius strip is a one-sided surface with intriguing characteristics and delves into the…
10 in stock
Starting Tuesday, May 7th
Discover the intriguing world of Taxicab Geometry in our captivating module! Step into a realm where distance is not just a straight line, but a journey of right-angle turns. Delve into this unique mathematical concept, exploring distances and shapes through the lens of city-like grid systems. Unravel the mysteries of non-Euclidean geometry, where every move…
10 in stock
Starting Monday, May 20th
3D Perspectives
Immerse yourself in the spatial world as you learn to create stunning isometric drawings and mind-bending optical illusions. Throughout the workshop, students will be immersed in the world of spatial visualization and geometric thinking, focusing on isometric views and hands-on construction of optical illusions to deepen their understanding of shapes and their representations. Join us…
10 in stock
Starting Tuesday, May 21st
Game Design: Crafting your own Card/Tile Game
Engage your child’s mathematical mind in our “Game Design Adventure: Crafting a Card/Tile Game” module! Tailored for ages 8 to 12, this immersive 5-session/week journey combines game theory principles with hands-on fabrication at our FabLab. Participants explore game mechanics rooted in math, learning strategic thinking and logical decision-making while designing their own card or tile…
10 in stock
Starting Monday, June 3rd
Navigating Dimensions June: Taxicab Geometry Exploration
Discover the intriguing world of Taxicab Geometry in our captivating module! Step into a realm where distance is not just a straight line, but a journey of right-angle turns. Delve into this unique mathematical concept, exploring distances and shapes through the lens of city-like grid systems. Unravel the mysteries of non-Euclidean geometry, where every move…
10 in stock
Starting Tuesday, June 4th
Topology through Paper Bending: June
Hexaflexagons are mathematical objects that involve folding paper to create a shape with hidden faces. Through folding, cutting, and decorating paper strips, participants unlock hidden patterns and mathematical properties while experiencing the magic of flexing their personalized hexaflexagons to reveal concealed faces. Möbius strip is a one-sided surface with intriguing characteristics and delves into the…
10 in stock
Starting Monday, June 17th
Game Design June: Crafting your own Card/Tile Game
Engage your child’s mathematical mind in our “Game Design Adventure: Crafting a Card/Tile Game” module! Tailored for ages 8 to 12, this immersive 5-session/week journey combines game theory principles with hands-on fabrication at our FabLab. Participants explore game mechanics rooted in math, learning strategic thinking and logical decision-making while designing their own card or tile…
10 in stock
Starting Tuesday, June 18th
3D Perspectives: June
Immerse yourself in the spatial world as you learn to create stunning isometric drawings and mind-bending optical illusions. Throughout the workshop, students will be immersed in the world of spatial visualization and geometric thinking, focusing on isometric views and hands-on construction of optical illusions to deepen their understanding of shapes and their representations. Join us…
10 in stock
Starting Monday, July 8th
Topology through Paper Bending: July
Hexaflexagons are mathematical objects that involve folding paper to create a shape with hidden faces. Through folding, cutting, and decorating paper strips, participants unlock hidden patterns and mathematical properties while experiencing the magic of flexing their personalized hexaflexagons to reveal concealed faces. Möbius strip is a one-sided surface with intriguing characteristics and delves into the…
10 in stock
Starting Tuesday, July 9th
Navigating Dimensions July: Taxicab Geometry Exploration
Discover the intriguing world of Taxicab Geometry in our captivating module! Step into a realm where distance is not just a straight line, but a journey of right-angle turns. Delve into this unique mathematical concept, exploring distances and shapes through the lens of city-like grid systems. Unravel the mysteries of non-Euclidean geometry, where every move…
10 in stock
Starting Monday, July 22nd
3D Perspectives: July
Immerse yourself in the spatial world as you learn to create stunning isometric drawings and mind-bending optical illusions. Throughout the workshop, students will be immersed in the world of spatial visualization and geometric thinking, focusing on isometric views and hands-on construction of optical illusions to deepen their understanding of shapes and their representations. Join us…
10 in stock
Starting Tuesday, July 23rd
Game Design July: Crafting your own Card/Tile Game
Engage your child’s mathematical mind in our “Game Design Adventure: Crafting a Card/Tile Game” module! Tailored for ages 8 to 12, this immersive 5-session/week journey combines game theory principles with hands-on fabrication at our FabLab. Participants explore game mechanics rooted in math, learning strategic thinking and logical decision-making while designing their own card or tile…
10 in stock