Lincoln learners shone at Latin Thinks: an event for agents of change

This Design Conference challenges learners from Latin America to come up with solutions to world problems. Our students won Honorable Mention and Most Outstanding recognition. 

Presenting to a panel of judges in the final showcase, several teams with Lincoln students won Honorable Mention and Most Outstanding recognition at the first 2022 Latin Thinks: a hybrid in-school and online event that unites students from seven schools in Latin America. During four days they collaborated to come up with creative and audacious solutions to real-world problems, as outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Our learners will be given the opportunity to carry their ideas forward through applications for grant funding through the 1517 fund. They worked with fellow learners of the American School of Asuncion in Paraguay, the International School Nido de Aguilas in Chile, the Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt International School, the American School of Lima in Peru, the International School Of Curitiba and Avenues São Paulo in Brazil.

How did the event start?

During the 2020/21 school year, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) advocates from several International schools in Latin America decided to try something new: a completely online conference where students from multiple countries could come together to collaborate on fresh ideas for real-world change. It was called Robohack and was a change of pace from the often solitary work of online learning, but it was clear that there was much more to this event than making robots. 

Led by the curriculum and STEAM coordinator at the American School of Asuncion in Paraguay, Tyler Shelden, the seven schools from Chile, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina took the Robohack concept to the next level and the rebranded LatinThinks Design Conference was created for 2022.

HOW WAS THE DYNAMIC OF THE EVENT?

Students attended online workshops run by mentor teachers from all schools and met guest speakers from all over the world (including the VP of mobile development for Facebook/Meta, Canadian Robotics startup teammobot.com, and young leaders of ethical startups from all around the Latin American region). They organized cohorts and shared concepts in online forums, pairing up with others who had the necessary skills to research, code, 3D model, communicate, and design prototypes for their ideas.

Here in Argentina, Lincoln teachers Matt Dolmont and Valeria Trias taught design thinking, 3D modeling, and image editing while our student volunteers from grades 7-10 developed their ideas under the guidance and feedback of Milagros Acosta and Nico Belluscio. Concepts such as sustainable underwater cities, sea-cleaning robots, solar-powered internet time capsules, post-apocalyptic rebuilding guides, and communication apps that don’t rely on existing physical internet infrastructure are just a few examples of their creative collaborations.

With a focus on connecting students with similar interests, interdisciplinary learning, and design thinking, events such as these allow students who are passionate about STEAM  and environmental impact to go beyond their typical classes and focus their learning in new ways.

Note written by Matthew Dolmont, professor at Lincoln.