Lighting the Pathway: Free Afterschool STEM Modules in Photonics
Presenters: Amanda Bastoni, PhD, Senior Director of Workforce & Higher Education Implementation, CAST & Hilary Lozar, STEM Coordinator, Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County
This free webinar showcases a set of hands-on, afterschool STEM modules designed to help youth explore the emerging industry of photonics—the science of light and its real-world applications in technology, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Developed through funding from Salish Kootenai College in collaboration with Headwaters Tech Hub, the session highlights how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies were embedded directly into the modules to support access and engagement. Participants will learn how the modules were co-designed, implemented in afterschool settings, and how educators can apply UDL “moves” to design future STEM learning experiences.