Expanded Schedule for Sally Ride Science Workshops at Local Libraries Includes Additional Courses Offered at No Cost
In collaboration with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), the San Diego Public Library is set to broaden its STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) offerings, with the Library NExT program expanding to include more branches and a wider range of courses.
By the end of 2018, the program organizers aim to have a total of 15 library branches participating, up from the initial five that started as a pilot program. The winter 2018 Library NExT workshops will be held at the San Diego Central Library, Linda Vista, Mira Mesa, Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa, Rancho Penásquitos, and Skyline Hills branches.
The workshops cover a diverse array of subjects, including Marine Mammals, Kitchen Chemistry, Wearable Electronics, The Science of Harry Potter, Messy Science, Tiny-House Architecture, Robotics, Video Game Design, and Physics of Fidget Spinners. Registration for classes can be done here.
Sally Ride Science, now based at UCSD Extension, coordinated jointly by Extension, Scripps Oceanography, and the San Diego Supercomputer Center, contributes significantly to the program. The courses are, in part, based on curriculum developed for the Sally Ride Science Junior Academy, a summer STEAM program.
Margaret King, executive director of Sally Ride Science at UCSD, has noted that the Library NExT classes are bringing in new potential library patrons, as about 20% of the students surveyed seldom or rarely go to the library.
Dr. Ed Abeyta, director of pre-collegiate and career preparation programs and assistant dean for community engagement at UCSD Extension, emphasized that serving more communities is a key goal of the program. Many of the workshop instructors are scientists and graduate students from UCSD, while others are UCSD undergraduates from Tritons for Sally Ride Science, a campus club that supports Sally Ride Science's programs.
UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla and campus leadership consider delivering the program to all areas of the city very important. The Library NExT program will expand to six new libraries in winter, with more branches joining in for spring classes.
In addition to STEAM workshops, the Library NExT program offers test preparation, college prep classes, and plans to offer precollege credit or certificates to students who complete certain courses. The workshops last from 3 to 4 hours and are held mostly on Saturdays, catering to middle school students or high school students.
The Library NExT program is part of the library's effort to remain relevant to its changing community. In its first year, the program served over 700 students. For the latest workshop updates, contacting the San Diego Public Library directly or checking their official website/events page might yield the most current information.
Additional statewide STEAM initiatives and symposium sessions in California focus on integrating arts, AI in education, data storytelling, family engagement, and fostering creativity under Prop 28 funding. These initiatives might influence future library offerings but are not explicitly listed as new San Diego Library courses.
- The Library NExT program, in collaboration with Sally Ride Science at UCSD, aims to offer online education in STEM subjects, such as Marine Mammals, Kitchen Chemistry, and Robotics, to cater to a wider range of students, including those who seldom visit the library.
- As the San Diego Public Library's Library NExT program expands to more branches, it intends to provide an array of learning opportunities, including test preparation, college prep classes, and even precollege credit or certificates, making education-and-self-development more accessible to the community.
