Philosophy
"it is the tension between creativity and skepticism that has produced the stunning unexpected findings of science" -Carl Sagan
Philosophy
"it is the tension between creativity and skepticism that has produced the stunning unexpected findings of science" -Carl Sagan
Mission
To provide resources for teachers to instill curiosity in the mind of students.
Vision
Carl Sagan eloquently states what we are all about; Science, Art, and indeed all areas of academic endeavor thrive within each another. Science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) are imperative for the future of America, a future which rests in the hands of students today. Kids are driven by curiosity to seek answers -they are natural scientists. Yet it has become increasingly difficult to create an atmosphere for students that nurtures their innate curiosity.
Large, bold, and innovative projects that push the frontiers of their respective sciences, bring forth the best students via inspiration. Without that inspiration where would students focus their curiosity? Why would they pursue a career? Especially if that career path is in a STEAM field where difficult concepts must be mastered.
The solution to the lack of scientists, engineers, artists, mathematicians, and technologists is to expand their respective frontiers. Past frontier breaking projects include; the Hoover Dam, Manhattan Project, National Highway System, Apollo program, Human Genome Project, Large Hadron Collider, and Burj Khalifa, just to name a few. These projects pushed the boundaries of science and inspired many to pursue careers where innovation thrives and lives flourish.
Political and financial obstacles have slowed down and even prevented the completion of many such projects. There are many reasons as to why this is, but one is certainly the lack of students pursuing careers in the STEAM fields. And this is what we're all about at NERDS, Inc.: building products that cultivate curiosity in today's classroom for the enlightenment and inspiration of tomorrow.
Center Mirrors for James Webb Telescopes
Core Values
The fundamental beliefs of our organization
Core Values
The fundamental beliefs of our organization
Quality is job #1
Quality in our people, products, and services is of the utmost importance to us. Every day we strive to improve our products to outperform and outlast our competition. If you are not satisfied with our product then we haven’t done our job.
Teach How not what
The success of a school is entirely dependent on its teachers.
Teachers are not a delivery system. Teachers provoke, stimulate, and engage the best in a student’s: individuality, creativity, and curiosity to learn. A teacher’s role is to facilitate learning not handing out tests. Standardized tests have a place as a diagnostics tool, but not a driving force for curriculum. The culture of the classroom needs to individualize teaching and learning because in the end, a teacher is a mentor, a coach, and an artist.
Enable Passion
Whether it’s inside the walls of NERDS Inc or in the classroom, we challenge to enable each other’s passions.
There are many reasons why students underperform in school; poverty, low attendance, negative peer influences but the need to build relationships with your students is universal. Creating a healthy relationship with your students can lead to comfort for the student to think freely. Every student has a unique thought process that current lesson plans and teaching styles need to be flexible at addressing. The goal of NERDS Inc is to give you the teacher the tools to enable your students’ passions in any discipline they desire.
NERDS Inc Role in education
NERDS Inc Role in education
PROBLEM
The problem is current design of teaching requires students to conform to a narrow spectrum of ideas, problems, and achievement.
SOLUTION
The best curriculum is a broad one that celebrates the students’ individual talents. In a broad based project curriculum, you have more opportunities to light the spark of curiosity in the student and when done, the student will learn without very much assistance.
When teaching to individuality, creativity, and curiosity, the teacher instills to the student the important process of how to think, opposed to what to think. Students learn how to get the information needed to follow their passions, not be told what is important to learn. Education is a human process; learning is a very personal in nature. Having a mechanical system of tests and standards does not allow for the proper learning environment.
OUR ROLE IN EDUCATION
Sir Ken Robinson said it best, “We have to recognize the human flourishing is not a mechanical process but organic process… it is about creating the conditions under which students will flourish.” At NERDS we want to give you the tools to customize your students educational experience. The tools to inspire, engage, and enable your student’s passions to explore all areas of knowledge.