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Thinkery describes EdXchange STEAM program to Technology Commission; program supported by GTOPS
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Summary
Representatives of Austin's Thinkery presented the EdXchange educator development program, which the museum runs with GTOPS support; staff said EdXchange serves Title I educators, offers stipends and CPE credit, and will open applications in April.
Representatives from the Austin Children’s Museum (the Thinkery) presented EdXchange, a Thinkery professional development program for educators, at the March 5 Technology Commission meeting and described how GTOPS funding has supported work with Title I schools and early‑learning educators across Central Texas.
Thinkery staff said EdXchange brings technology tools and coaching into classrooms so teachers gain confidence and can integrate STEAM technologies into regular lesson plans. Presenters described multi‑part workshops that include an initial hands‑on training followed by classroom visits across an eight‑week period and continued virtual follow ups.
Why it matters: EdXchange targets educators at Title I and other under‑resourced schools. The program aims to increase teachers’ comfort using technology (coding tools such as Scratch; micro:bit controllers; robotics like Ozobots) and to provide a modest stipend to graduates so they can purchase classroom equipment they trial in workshops.
Program details presented to the commission
- Reach and partners: Thinkery staff said, over the life of the program, EdXchange has worked with hundreds of educators and thousands of students; during the presentation presenters cited figures of 253 educators and a bit over 7,000 students served (program timeframe referenced by presenters was not clearly dated in the meeting notes). Thinkery said it partners with multiple Central Texas districts and community organizations.
- Model and supports: The program includes initial workshops, customized classroom visits where Thinkery staff bring devices and co‑teach, and follow up sessions. Thinkery staff said they emphasize accessible, low‑cost or free tools (Scratch, ScratchJr, micro:bits, Ozobots), encourage collaborative learning with teachers as curriculum experts, and provide continuing professional education (CPE) credit. The program also provides a $250 stipend after completion; some teachers pool stipends for larger purchases.
- Funding and timeline: Thinkery representatives thanked the commission for longstanding GTOPS awards that have supported EdXchange. Presenters said applications for the next cohort will open in April and invited commissioners to tour the Thinkery facility and the organization’s new shared space hosted with a central campus in Del Valle ISD.
Commissioners’ questions
Commissioners asked about grade ranges (presenters said cohorts currently skew toward pre‑K/elementary and that some programs serve early learners) and what technologies teachers found most useful (presenters cited block‑based coding, microcontrollers and simple robots that support literacy and STEM skills). Commissioners congratulated Thinkery on 10 years of the program and encouraged continued GTOPS applications.
Ending note
Thinkery staff asked commissioners to share the program opportunity with k‑5 educators and said interested teachers should watch for the April application window.
