You are 15 years old. Imagine walking into a hip emporium that inspires you to be curious and energizes you to succeed at a career. You sit down and play games; learn how to build games, 3D worlds and simulations; or just chat with like-minded friends about the future. The entire experience is about helping you "visualize" your science and engineering career exploration. In a "design team setting" you "play" roles ranging from 3D modeler to aerospace engineer.
IncredibleMinds goes beyond college guidance and occupational information to address the entire process of STEM career assessment, exploration and action planning necessary to help minority youth find STEM careers that fit their skills, interests, personalities, and developmental needs. New educational solutions need to be relevant and valuable to industry as well as relevant and valuable to youth (National Association of Governors, 2006). The key to the future of education is leveraging current investments in entertainment software and industry technologies.
We use commercial video games as the conceptual bridge to “playing” with industry simulation and modeling tools. Modeling and simulation tools are the immersive environments that our next-generation engineers and scientists must master. These tools provide the means to design and build engineered systems as well as to investigate and visualize complex scientific phenomena. The modeling and simulation industry is a $6 billion U.S. industry that is central to innovation in high-growth industries and the advancement of scientific discovery. Today, Congressional and industry leaders consider the modeling and simulation industry a "national critical technology.” According to Dr. Edwin Crues, NASA Constellation Program Modeling and Simulation Architect, “We cannot have an active and vibrant space program without an active and vibrant modeling and simulation community to support it.”
16. TECHNOLOGY EMPORIUM
• Harmonize people, process and technology
• The cornerstone of this program is a "real world" laboratory with a "library"
of video games advanced simulation and modeling applications
• The emporium’s environment is built from design patterns for 21st century
learning
• The environments of “Laboratory” and “social cafe” are blended
• Design 21st century learning interior into existing structure in DC’s inner city
™
laboratory
