WE’RE HERE TO HELP
As an innovator in the virtual and physical blended STEM learning field, VMU specializes in ensuring that the opportunity for children to explore their curiosity continues in spite of the numerous challenges that might interrupt traditional learning methods.
INTEGRATED APPROACH
With the seemingly sudden change to online classes that many countries are now facing, teachers are looking for assistance on how to adapt to this change in traditional learning. VMU’s staff helps guide teachers through this virtual landscape by providing the resources needed to understand and deliver STEM curricula alongside their regular academic lessons.
When participating in a VMU training session, instructors present each of the curriculum series within its own self contained training block. These blocks cover topics specific to the overarching principles and concepts of the series, such as how to successfully use the interfaces and features of any software that is used during a series, and specific tips and tricks on getting the most out of any materials used during the length of the series.
We use this approach to ensure every teacher is able to utilize our curricula in the way that best fits the needs of their classrooms. By providing teachers with the knowledge required to adapt to their student’s needs, the resulting outcome is a more engaging experience for students and teachers alike. Additionally, this familiarity with the resources and materials allows teachers the freedom to integrate VMU curricula seamlessly into their everyday lesson plans, after school programs, or one-off activities.
POST TRAINING ASSISTANCE
Our commitment to ensuring the successful outcome of any programs using our curricula does not end with training. We proactively contact teachers that have participated in our training and verify that they know that we are there to assist them if needed. For any question, related content, or even unrelated technical assistance with any software, VMU provides as much or as little support as requested.
Additionally, as a company that specializes in virtual content, we provide remote support that will enable teachers to avoid the pitfalls that often come from dealing with other remote providers. We make sure to use the virtual meeting software that best suits the individual teacher’s needs and to work through any topics for which educators would like our further assistance.
METHODOLOGY
The cornerstone of all VMU activities is based on asking students how they want to create a solution. VMU uses a very direct and specific approach of scaffolding principles in individual and group activities. These focus on accumulative goals for our modular series, while still providing an entry point per module for new students so they are not left behind.
Additionally, as each STEM series is introduced every year, we make sure that each series’ first module covers the core principles from the previous series contained in new activities for any students returning to our curricula. While the approach per activity may sometimes vary, all elements have a very specific structure of introducing concepts to the students through activities or demonstrations, followed by step by step explanation of a concept that provides the knowledge necessary to complete an activity.
TECHNOLOGIES WE USE
VMU’s use of original STEM content stands out due to our efforts to include content provided by leading educators and innovators such as:
Coding tools and principles from MIT, UC Berkley, and Harvard
Models and data from NASA, NOAA, and USGS
STANDARDS WE UPHOLD
VMU is committed to ensuring that the content we create is in alignment with national standards and that each activity clearly indicates what section meets those standards and why. We also strive to make our content align with state and local standards when possible. We want to ensure that the content we present leaves no guesswork as to whether or not it will be usable in school activities.
Getting needed materials into students’ hands quickly and accurately is critical to ensuring that STEM education becomes an effective part of each child’s learning process. It is for this very reason that VMU has extensive experience in providing software deployment and physical materials to clients in an organized and timely fashion.
To facilitate transparency we maintain a viewable record of the most recent quarterly prices of materials needed for our programs and the cost per student and minimum order amounts needed. Any materials that are part of a program are billed at exactly the amount we pay for them plus the expense of having one of our staff process the ordering and shipping details for the clients programs.