Inspiring Future STEM Leaders: The Lasting Impact of ExploraVision
Inspiring Future STEM Leaders: The Lasting Impact of ExploraVision
By Fadia Ahmed Hussein, Avalon Middle School, Orlando, FL
I have been involved with Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision since 2003, and in that time, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding many teams. Regardless if they win or not, I am a firm believer in the ExploraVision process. The magic is in the method, and that students are capable simply for following through its framework; all the better if their dedication is rewarded with a win at the end! Even if they do not win, they’ll have the tangible results of their perseverance in their hands, and that is a great feeling. The skills they gain by doing this project are there with them for life!
Teaching for more than three decades, I can safely say that ExploraVision is unique in that it allows my students to envision their future ambitions in the STEM field. The experience is immensely rewarding, and can be very personal to them. Being in an environment with like-minded peers keeps them motivated and imaginative.
I find the key to excite my students is to build on their inherent enthusiasm to make what they imagine reality. Such excitement quickly proves infectious as they discuss and collaborate with their partners – each member of the group painting a stroke until the picture comes to life. That’s when I find that they become fully invested in their creation – it draws from all of them collectively to make something that still speaks to them, individually.
I find that project-based learning elements help students to showcase their talents and creativity in the very pragmatic manner of real-world problem-solving. Students tend to be more engaged when they work on something they are passionate about. This turns trouble-shooting a problem from an onerous task to a more involved pleasure. This attitude will undoubtedly help them to be successful when they join the work force.
Keeping everyone on track can be a challenge, so I try to keep it as intuitive as possible. On the first day of classes, I get my students started on dreaming up their ‘vision’. Soon enough, the groups naturally form out of students with like-minded ideas. At this point, I like to introduce the support structure they’ll need to bring their vision to light – through our school’s ‘Canvas’ platform. Here, the students, the parents, and my fellow educators all have access to the project rubric, awards, steps documents etc. Shared Google Docs help in monitoring their various ideas taking shape. Nothing beats face-to-face collaboration, so I set aside extra time beyond the allotted periods for teams to meet and discuss, should they need.
It’s time-consuming, it’s demanding, and at times, it can be frustrating, but when I see the very real progress my kids make, I can genuinely say it’s worth it. Most teams work harmoniously because they share a common vision, but certainly, some discord is bound to occur. A robust support structure, in the form of the aforementioned Canvas platform allows me to involve parents as mentors and fellow teachers in motivating my students where needed. Sometimes, if issues stem from a lagging group member, I tend to utilize the color-coded feature of author contribution on Google Doc that allows students to visualize their individual input.
For me, knowing my students are safe and secure in their fund of knowledge that they can be competitive years to come, just by putting into practice the ethos of this rigorous program is a tremendously rewarding, and humbling, experience. If I can help them recognize just what it is they are truly passionate about, and perhaps be recognized by their peers for it, then I’ve done my duty.
To learn more about the 2025-26 ExploraVision program, visit https://www.exploravision.org.