The Tech Interactive Receives Prestigious ASTC Award for Advancing STEM Education in Kenya
The Tech Interactive Receives Prestigious ASTC Award for Advancing STEM Education in Kenya
The Tech Interactive, renowned as Silicon Valley's hub for science and technology engagement, has garnered the distinguished 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award. This honor, bestowed by the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), recognizes the organization's groundbreaking Design Challenge Learning (DCL) Teacher Trainer Program in Kenya for its exceptional efforts in expanding access to hands-on STEM education. Over three years, the program has trained nearly 20,000 educators and inspired more than 568,000 students across the nation.
Transforming Teacher Training in Kenya
Launched in 2023, the DCL Teacher Trainer Program was designed to align with Kenya's shift towards a Competency-Based Curriculum, prioritizing experiential learning rather than rote memorization. Following a successful pilot phase, the program expanded rapidly, utilizing a train-the-trainer model to empower local educators. By the close of 2024, more than 500 Trainers of Teachers (ToTs) had been trained in Nakuru and Kisumu counties, which subsequently led to the training of 19,348 teachers. By the end of 2025, projections indicate that outreach will extend to 20,000 teachers, ultimately benefiting hundreds of thousands of learners in grades 4 through 9.
The curriculum provides educators with essential skills to incorporate real-world problem-solving into their instruction through the DCL framework, which was initially established in San Jose. This innovative approach emphasizes collaborative and student-led learning, where teachers guide students by facilitating and nurturing their discoveries rather than providing direct answers. The program ensures accessibility by offering training through various methods, including workshops and online modules, catering to schools in underserved and remote areas.
Impacting Future Innovators
Katrina Stevens, President and CEO of The Tech Interactive, reflected on the significance of the DCL approach, stating, "Design Challenge Learning has been at the core of our mission for decades. Witnessing its power to transform education in Kenya is extraordinary. We are grateful for this recognition by ASTC and eager to continue fostering hands-on STEM learning opportunities."
The Tech Challenge, a signature initiative of The Tech Interactive since 1986, has engaged thousands of students in Silicon Valley in practical problem-solving through engineering design. Expanding to Kenya in 2023, the program started with 750 students, jumping to 2,700 participants in 2024. By July 2025, over 4,800 students participated in showcase events across Kisumu and Nakuru, marking the first time the program operated simultaneously in two locations. This expansion is a direct outcome of the DCL Teacher Trainer Program, which equips educators to prepare students for these challenges.
In 2025, students were challenged to devise devices from recycled materials capable of withstanding a three-meter drop while delivering a coin up a ramp. This specific task addressed pressing local needs for food and supplies delivery to rural areas. Students from all demographics, including those with disabilities, showcased their creativity and teamwork through innovative solutions, reinforcing the program's impact on diverse communities.
Shital Patel, Director of Kenya Expansion at The Tech Interactive, emphasized the importance of investing in educators, noting, "The creativity and confidence these students exhibit highlight the transformative power of this educational model. By empowering teachers, we are fostering a system that will inspire future generations of innovators."
As The Tech Interactive endeavors to broaden its program across additional Kenyan counties, it remains steadfast in its mission: to ignite the innovator in every individual, whether they be in Silicon Valley, the Silicon Savannah, or beyond. This organization continues to lead in creating scalable STEAM educational resources, encouraging innovative thinking among a new generation of problem-solvers on a local and global scale. Throughout its journey, The Tech Interactive has maintained a commitment to hands-on activities, experimental laboratories, and design challenge experiences, driving home the belief that every individual has the potential to be an innovator capable of making a positive difference in the world.
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