Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers offers middle-school students, many of whom attend under-resourced schools, access to next-gen technology and an immersive curriculum that covers topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, coding and design thinking.

But the STEM enrichment program is more than just tech lessons: The students learn essential life skills, too. While credentialed teachers lead the tech classes, high school and college mentors guide the kids in exercises on self-identity, personal growth and character development.

At the STEM Achievers program at Cal State LA, mentor Ivan Martinez practiced mock interviews with rising eighth grader Angel Gutierrez and his classmates. “The lesson today, it forced me to contemplate the future,” said Gutierrez, who thinks he might like to work as a machine learning engineer—or an artificial intelligence engineer—when he’s older.

“We know that during adolescence students are really building their identities,” says Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas, co-director of Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers at Cal State LA. “So it’s a really important time to be able to have them reflect on who they are: What do they value? What do they see themselves to be in the future?”

Watch the video above to see how Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers mixes next-gen technology with emotional-intelligence-enhancing activities.

Verizon Innovative Learning is an award-winning education initiative addressing barriers to digital inclusion. It is a key part of Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan to help move the world forward for all.

#VerizonInnovativeLearning, #CitizenVerizon, #Education, #STEM, #Technology