About Me
Portland Wiz Kids offers programs for kids in engineering, inventing, and creative problem solving at various locations throughout the Portland Metro area. Each program is developed as a way to introduce kids to the process of design and creativity in technology, with a balance of scientific t...
Portland Wiz Kids offers programs for kids in engineering, inventing, and creative problem solving at various locations throughout the Portland Metro area. Each program is developed as a way to introduce kids to the process of design and creativity in technology, with a balance of scientific theory and creative freedom to apply what is learned in a new way - truly the essence of invention.
Kids these days have many opportunities to interract with science and technology, but often it is a one-way interaction, with someone or something communicating to them, whether a teacher, a website, or a game. Portland Wiz Kids programs are developed on the basis of action learning, which uses experiential activities to teach the engineering and creative processes, whether it is designing a robot, programming a new computer game, creating a solar car, or inventing a new toy or game. Kids learn how to create something new, while having fun doing it.
Innovation comes from people who are not afraid of solving problems; who see obstacles as opportunity to make the world a better place. Portland Wiz Kids programs are designed for kids who want to learn how to use engineering or inventing to create new solutions to problems. They are designed for kids who love math and science and as well as those who don't! Each program offers participants a new way of looking at the technology they interact with on a daily basis - from a designer's point of view, rather than simply as a user.
My Reviews write a review
"Really empowering for my daughter"
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- Barbara Smythe
- Portland, OR
Review of Portland Wiz Kids, April 08, 2009
My daughter participated in a "Gateway to Engineering for Girls" class and came home with the greatest collection of fun, GIRLY stuff that she built in class, from a light-up necklace, to a bouncing stuffed animal. The girls developed a great understanding of how everything worked and could explain it very clearly. Sensing no limits, she later went on to participate on a couple of fun and successful middle school teams (one of them through Portland Wiz Kids), in engineering-related competitions, including FIRST Lego League and the Sally Ride Science Foundation's Inventor's Toy Challenge. What a great introduction to technology and engineering.
My daughter participated in a "Gateway to Engineering for Girls" class and came home with the greatest collection of fun, GIRLY stuff that she built in class, from a light-up necklace, to a bouncing stuffed animal. The girls developed a great understanding of how everything worked and could explain it very clearly. Sensing no limits, she later went on to participate on a couple of fun and succ...
"Extremely Knowledgeable, Talented and Eye Opening!"
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- agvivino
- Tualatin, OR
Review of Portland Wiz Kids, April 08, 2009
Diana Laboy-Rush is extremely knowledgeable and incredibly talented when it comes to teaching technology. She also has a keen ability to open the minds of her students to the exciting world of becoming inventors, innovators and engineers! I had the opportunity to watch Diana in action as she coached a team of students which included my son on their march to take the second highest award given at 2008 Sally Ride Science Toy Challenge Competition which had thousands of teams competing. This was a proud accomplishment for my son which he will forever remember and for which I will always be grateful for!
Anthony Vivino
Tualatin Oregon
Diana Laboy-Rush is extremely knowledgeable and incredibly talented when it comes to teaching technology. She also has a keen ability to open the minds of her students to the exciting world of becoming inventors, innovators and engineers! I had the opportunity to watch Diana in action as she coached a team of students which included my son on their march to take the second highest award given...
My Recent Activity
- Portland Wiz Kids created First LEGO League (FLL) LEGO Robotics August 27, 2009
- Portland Wiz Kids added a photo to Making Math and Science Fun! June 04, 2009
- Portland Wiz Kids created Making Math and Science Fun! June 04, 2009
- Barbara Smythe reviewed Portland Wiz Kids April 08, 2009
- agvivino reviewed Portland Wiz Kids April 08, 2009
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My Recent Articles
Too much Screen Time?
Posted by Portland Wiz Kids in Engineering
It is hard to ignore the statistics on the number of hours most children spend in front of a television set or video game. According to national survey conducted by the National Institute on ...
America's Engineering Crisis
Posted by Portland Wiz Kids in Engineering
We need to focus on the children that are capable of contributing to the engineering workforce and encourage them to study engineering! Without this critical population, which includes women,...
