SoBRO TEC

One hundred and eighty high school students in the South Bronx area of New York City develop technological fluidity by exploring products of urban design that involve IT systems and networks such as transit systems, parks and recreation; exploring film and performance technology and music production and architectural modeling technology.
Project Information
Cohort: 
3 (2005-2008)
Category: 
Youth-Based
Principal Investigator: 
Laura Allen
John Harvey
Sponsor: 
South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation
Primary Focus: 
Computer Science - Programming and Other
Organization Location City: 
South Bronx
Organization Location Region/State: 
Middle Atlantic
New York (NY)
Where project work happens: 
Middle Atlantic
New York (NY)
Other Area(s) of Focus: 
Computer Science – Gaming & Simulations
Participant type: 
High School Students
Target Area: 
Urban
Award Number: 
05-25162
Overview Section

The program will serve up to 180 minority high school youth from the South Bronx in a project–based, design–centered program. The goals are to develop the participants' technological fluidity within the context of the local urban environment and to broaden the entry points to IT–related careers for these minority and low-income participants through exposure to IT applications in professional and creative settings (not mutually exclusive). This three–year program consists of a series of after school, semester–length modules and a summer program. Students will meet for at least two hours per day, three days per week for a total of 11 weeks per semester; summer programs will meet for 20 hours per week during seven weeks; reaching a maximum of 230 contact hours per year. The modules engage students in three areas of technology: Information Technology in Urban Spaces, exploring products of urban design that involve IT systems and networks such as transit systems, parks and recreation and public service offerings as well as the cellular phone; Art and Entertainment Technology, film and performance technology and music production; and Architectural Modeling Technology, materials and building strategies and building your dream house. The summer program offers three options that build on these modules: field trip series, community web–building projects, and internships.

Activities Section

Spring 2007: Game Design and Development with Actionscript – Students developed their own games using Adobe Flash. Students gained abstract and critical thinking skills through programming in Actionscript.

Summer 2007: Students participated in internships, learned Digital Video at New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, and spent time going on educational and relevant field trips.

Fall 2008: Students learned Google Sketchup, a 3D Modeling software, and they learned how to sketch and create their own 3D dream homes. Students also took a trip to Google, as well as New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program.