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"This year I am a freshman at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. I work as a lab assistant for one of the computer labs on campus, and on a contract basis for FOX Sports Northwest. I've always been fascinated by stereos, sound, and music. The PCS audio lab enabled me to combine my musical talent and my knack for electronics quite well."
--Jonathan Claybaugh,
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA
Former PCS
Edventures! Student
"In addition to PCS, I attended Centennial High and Eagle High schools in Boise, Idaho. I'm now a student at Stanford University, studying both computer science and archaeology. I began working for Hewlett Packard as a high school senior, and I now work there in the summers. I'm interested in distance running, all forms of dance, poetry, Native American cultures, backpacking, and skiing.
My favorite PCS study was archaeology, and in fact has become something that I want to pursue in college and advanced studies. Why do I like it? Maybe because I'm finding a little piece of history. Maybe because I get to tell someone else's story for them. Maybe because I just like playing in the dirt..."
--Jennifer Gadda,
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Former PCS
Edventures! Student
"This year I will be a Freshman at the University of Michigan and I plan to major in Computer Engineering. The PCS Edventures program has been like a breeding environment for all my energy. It is where I got the bug to learn for the sake of learning.
My biggest problem, and PCS is partly responsible for this, is that I am too interested in learning about everything. As a result, I currently run my own web design business, engineer high-powered rockets, and am an official team member of the U of M Mars Rover team that recently won a competitive bid to build a new rover prototype. My place on the team is to use my 3D graphic skills to render images of the designs and I feel extremely fortunate to be joining this team in my Freshman year. It's interesting to wonder where I might be going if I hadn't ever been a PCS student -- I'm just glad to be where I am!"
--Matt Hardy,
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
Former PCS
Edventures! Student
"I attended PCS for many years during Junior High School and High School. I was employed there a summer and left for a position at Hewlett Packard where I am currently employed as a support technician. I am attending Boise State University in pursuit of a Computer Science degree while composing music on the side.
My most enjoyable activity at PCS would be the time I spent helping, teaching and working with the other students. While programming and building engineering were fun and enjoyable projects I feel I have learned more and taken more with me with the experience I had as an instructor. It taught me that I had the ability to learn complex subjects and it gave me the self confidence to pursue new and challenging subjects."
--Marc Nilson,
Hewlett Packard
Boise, ID
Former PCS
Edventures! Student
"I attended PCS for many years This year I will be a freshman at the University of Oregon, hoping to graduate with a Fine Arts Degree. At PCS I really enjoyed the architecture and programming areas of study. As a result, I have created games with beautiful graphics -- done by me. Also given to me from PCS was a thirst for learning. As a result, I find that I am truly a rennaissance man!"
--Ben Turner,
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Former PCS
Edventures! Student
"As a student at PCS, I became very involved in computer technology. I'm currently a sophmore majoring in Computer Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I have been participating in research here in a vareity of areas: live internet video, wireless networking, and quantum computing. I am also an avid skier, and play hockey and roller blade for fun.
My favorite activity at PCS
was hands-on UNIX Administration and programming. Working with others to achieve specific goals (setting up dialup lines, making backups, etc.), I learned a lot about the UNIX operating system, as well as about computer hardware, and was introduced to a wide variety of computer- related problems and intriguing projects."
--Brett Vasconcellos,
Massachusetts Institute
of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Former PCS
Edventures! Student
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Welcome to Edventures Online!
The educational adventure where kids discover how things work.
Here's what people are saying about Edventures Online!
"I serendipitously found Discover Lab on a web search for a problem solving
competition. It was the best discovery I have made in long time! The
Discover Lab is truly a turn key curriculum that makes my job exciting and
easier while providing a challenge to my gifted students. The students
are diving into the activities in the mechanical engineering unit and beg
me to let them do one more project! What I love about it is that
engineering and mechanical things are definitely not my expertise but this
program makes it simple to teach challenging concepts. It is so well
organized and there are a vast amount of activities to choose from.
Parents are impressed by the program because of the online system that
students can access from home. As a gifted teacher in an Arts magnet
school I want to challenge my students in critical thinking skills and
creativity. This program does both. The student's imagination run wild
when they are building with legos and the technical aspects of engineering
they are learning can be applied to creative problem solving activities we
are doing as well. Thanks for creating a program that makes me look like
an engineering teacher(even though I have never taken an engineering class
before.) So far it the program has exceeded my expectations."
--Ann Weller
Perkins Elementary
St. Petersburg, Florida
"As a long time educator and current school district trustee, I feel qualified to recommend PCS based on my review of their current curricular offerings and on their plans for future development. Education has become a national priority. The utilization of increasingly sophisticated technology in education seems a given for the twenty-first century. Moreover, active hands-on learning is being enthusiastically embraced by the entire education industry. By aligning itself with these realities, PCS is on its way to becoming a key provider in the national goal of educating every child to his or her full potential."
--Sharon Gray, Past President
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees
Watsonville, California
"I think its cool"
--Christopher Gee, fifth grader
"...there is an anticipation each day for my daughter to check out what is on Edventures. Sometimes I have to tell her to do her other assignments first, because I know she will spend quite a while on Edventures once she is connected."
--Wanetta, Parent and Home School Teacher
"I like doing the projects and talking on the chat"
--Lance (age 7, from Canada), "Unschooler"
"I have been using EDVENTURES! a lot...it's wonderful...I LOVE IT!"
--Cody (age 13, from Washington), Public School Student
"PCS Edventures!...the revolution in Education is on!"
--Microsoft Network, October, 1996
"[PCS Edventures!] projects not only impart knowledge, but encourage youngsters to solve problems, make decisions and avoid reactionary thinking. Small group interaction and brain-storming sessions are integral components. PCS Edventures! also involves parents as mentors and supports home schooling."
--Technological Horizons in Education (T.H.E.) Journal, January, 1997
"The [PCS Edventures!] program gives youngsters firsthand experience on projects involving architecture, mechanical engineering, robotics, and lasers."
--Guy Ashley, "The Marin Independent Journal" (Marin CA)
"I'm now a student at Stanford University, studying both Computer Science and Archaeology. I began working for Hewlett Packard as a high school senior, and I now work there in the summers. [When attending PCS], I worked in Programming, UNIX, electronics, engineering...Now, I work extensively with Macs and UNIX at school."
--Jennifer Gadda, Stanford University, Former PCS Edventures! Student
"The highlight of the visit for me was meeting several of your students. They took obvious pride in their projects and in their methods. They demonstrated an unusual pride of workmanship which is rare today in both industry and education. The ideas behind their work were superb. Their excitement and enthusiasm were contagious."
--Tom Lough, Curriculum Coordinator LEGO Systems, Inc.
"The courses offered sound more like graduate school programs than elementary school basics."
--David Drury, Editor for "The Twin Cities Times" (Marin CA)
"Computer technology is fast enabling companies to explore new paths for learning unimaginable just a couple decades ago. PCS Edventures! is a model for these possibilities, evident in its expansion from independent learning centers into internet services and in-school science labs."
--The Education Industry Report
"The students of PCS have demonstrated that they can develop truly remarkable mechanical and computer skills hitherto not done anywhere else in the nation."
--Winston Goering, Proclaimation from the Office of the Mayor, Nampa, Idaho
"I attended PCS for many years during my Junior High School and High School years. I am currently employed as a support technician at Hewlett Packard. I am attending Boise State University in pursuit of a Computer Science degree. [PCS] taught me that I had the ability to learn complex subjects and it gave me the self confidence to pursue new and challenging subjects."
--Marc Nilson, Boise State University, Former PCS Edventures! Student
"Some of the [Edventures!] kids who installed the UNIX (mainframe) are now working part-time for H-P."
--Chuck Ulfers, Information Technology Manager for Hewlett-Packard
"We have a hoist that travels on a rope and lifts 41 pounds with a 4.5 volt motor -- all made from LEGOs. The LEGO people couldn't believe it. They thought it couldn't lift more than two pounds. It took 46 students three months and it all started when someone asked, 'What should I build today?'"
--Pat McShane, Founder of PCS Learning Centers, "ANTIC Magazine"
"James Clough credits PCS for providing the environment and imagination that led to his creation, the Paranoid Robotic Insect Robot"
--James Clough Sr., winner of the National NSTA/Duracell Electronics Competition
"I signed up immediately"
--'Simensays' MENSA
"Drew is working with things from the real world, like architecture, where he wouldn't have those experiences in [public] school. He now looks at things from a scientific perspective -- how it's put together, the energy behind it."
--Becky Levi, Parent
"I just want to let you know how exciting it is to see the Boise PCS school's enthusiasm for learning. The adults seem to be as excited about learning as the children are!"
--Linda Garrett, President, Creative Learning Technologies
"You provide an invaluable service to these children. In the advancing technical world we live in, maybe these kids will have a head start and still maintain the important moral values and social skills to help them cope."
--Corry and Tammy DeBoer, Parents
"...I am impressed with the emphasis on self paced and higher level thinking skills. As I reviewed your facility, I additionally was impressed with the offerings that you provide for students."
--Steven Schmitz, former Superintendent of Schools, Nampa School District #131
"We had Family Weekend and Parent's Day last weekend with 185 family members on campus. During that time, we had sessions where the kids showed their parents how to make things or their projects on the computer, traffic signal, merry-go-round, etc. They also had several cars made which they designed to go up an incline. The parents and kids really enjoyed the hands-on learning experience that LEGOs offer. I think they were also surprised of the complexity and understanding of how the projects are built and then adapted by the students."
--Pat Nelson, Director of Special Services, Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind
"Hey!!!! Thanks so much for such a quick and clear explanation of so many terms. I am telling all my students about it so they can use it to study for basic information when getting ready for tests. Your work is greatly appreciated.
"
--Donna
"The computer cityscape Jennie saved from CFC disaster yesterday was developed by youngsters aged 12 to 18."
--Guy Ashley, "The Marin Independent Journal" (Marin CA)
"BTW, we love this program. We can't wait to see where it takes us next!"
--L. Schneider
"I love what you have to offer..."
--G. Hornback
"Thanks again, for making "hard" science principals fun and easy."
--T. Hager
"I absolutely love edventures."
--W. Godfrey
"The Edventures program is revolutionary."
--J. Eddy
"Your projects look most exciting."
--R. Pitts
"....there was just so much good stuff it was hard to know where to start."
--A. Folk
"I had the kids do some counting and building with the lego's today. Can't wait to get into some building. Thank you for all your help."
--K. Miller
Here is what people are saying about PCS Customer Support...
"Thanks for your help...Aloha!"
--C. Fukunaga, Parent - Kailua, Hawaii
"I thank you for your prompt reply and excellent customer service."
--M. Bassett
"Thanks so much for your prompt reply."
--M. Krug-Muro
"Thank- you so much for all your help. The Kids are excited about getting started and look forward to new, hands-on learning. Your response was greatly appreciated."
--R. OBrien
"Thanks for your quick response."
--C. Sasaki
"Thanks for the prompt reply."
--M. Moore
"Thanks for your quick response. . . . .in fact, it's refreshing to get a response at ALL in this age of 'forwarded emails', spam, etc."
--D. Bowers
"Thank you for the personal note. You don't get too many these days. . . . I was impressed
by what I saw!"
--D. Melton
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