Empowering Students with STEM Skills Through Dance and Technology

In today's rapidly evolving world, it is essential to equip our students with the necessary skills to succeed in STEM fields. One innovative project that is making waves in middle school education is harnessing the power of dance and technology to empower students with STEM skills.

Based in Monmouth, Oregon, the iDance Mobile Code Lab is on a mission to bring STEM experiences to underserved communities, focusing on high-poverty, urban, and rural areas throughout Oregon. Their flagship program, "Code Can Dance," merges the worlds of dance and technology to engage students in STEM learning in a creative and culturally relevant way. By incorporating both block-based and text-based coding, the project teaches fundamental programming concepts while making STEM education active and enjoyable. Through the use of dance and wearable technology, students not only develop technical skills but also foster empathy, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. One of the key strengths of this project is its ability to reach students who are typically underrepresented in STEM fields, such as BIPOC youth, rural students, and girls. By providing a variety of STEM-focused activities, including robotics, marine biology, and agricultural science, students are given the opportunity to engage with STEM in meaningful and hands-on ways. Led by a dance artist and educator, the Inspiration Dance Company, LLC, behind this project aims to provide valuable resources for educators, including lesson plans, instructional videos, and downloadable teaching materials. This interdisciplinary approach not only fosters technical skills but also encourages physical activity through embodied learning, allowing students to see themselves as inventors and change-makers. By bridging the gap between arts and science, the iDance Mobile Code Lab is paving the way for a new generation of innovative thinkers and problem solvers. Through their unique approach to STEM education, they are proving that coding can be both a creative and physically engaging activity, empowering students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.