Last year, the White House asked K-12 students across the nation to create short films on the role of technology in the classroom, posing the question: why is technology important and how will it change the educational experience for kids in the future? The country eagerly responded, with nearly 3,000 submissions. On February 28, in collaboration with the American Film Institute, the White House hosted more than a dozen of the young filmmakers at the first-ever White House Student Film Festival, presenting 16 official selections, with two NYC students among the finalists!
Gabrielle Nafie, a student at Horace Mann, and Miles Pilchik, a student at PS 198, both 8, and their film “Full S[T]EAM Ahead: How Technology Rocks the Classroom” were honored. The film, narrated by Gabrielle and Miles, shows how SciTech Kids, a NYC children’s science enrichment program, are rockin’-with-science in the classroom. The kids, along with Kim Magloire, president of SciTech Kids, created the two-minute film.
President Obama addressed the attendees and praised the young filmmakers. “In my official capacity as President, let me just say these movies are awesome. Like all great movies, your films do something special—they tell a story. They help us understand, in this case, the amazing things that are going on in classrooms and how technology is empowering our students, and broadening their imaginations, challenging them to dream bigger and reach further.” With Gabrielle and Miles excitedly flanked behind him, President Obama also spoke directly about Gabrielle, Miles, and SciTech Kids during his remarks. (video)
“SciTech Kids gives young children the opportunity to explore science and technology without limits,” says Magloire. “Having our students’ work showcased at the White House is truly amazing, but hearing the President speak about the kids and their work with such excitement is beyond anything I ever could have hoped for.”
Founded in 2011, SciTech Kids teaches children ages 3-13 about STEM–science, technology, engineering, and math. Not just lectures and demonstrations, kids are encouraged to conduct experiments and discover scientific principles for themselves. They also try to turn STEM into STEAM, adding an “A” to bring the “arts” into the scientific process. “For every new gadget invented, somebody had to create the mechanics, but somebody else had to make it beautiful,” explains Magloire. “Innovation comes from people who can do both.”
Gabrielle and Miles were proud ambassadors for SciTech Kids and their schools and community. And it was a great opportunity to show children of all ages that its never too early to discover the excitement and creativity of science and technology.
