The Education Foundation of Harris County (EFHC) supports innovative educational initiatives and out-of-school time programs benefiting students and teachers. Recognized by the IRS as a 501c(3) public charity, the Education Foundation was chartered in 1994 in partnership with the Harris County Department of Education. EFHC's mission promotes its vision that every child can learn and succeed given opportunity and education.
Our innovative initiatives enable teachers to change how children imagine their futures. Our regions' economic future is in our classrooms - let's feed their minds!
EcoBot Pro-Camp Robotics Training For ISD's and Education Groups (Limited Availability)
Pro-Camp provides Texas ISD'S or private education groups with a robotics camp for students while including up to 5 teachers for on-site real world classroom training experience. Students and teachers will learn a 21-step program which familiarizes them with the daily operations and layout of a robotics laboratory. Students and teachers alike learn programming, creation, and set-up of autonomous robots. Teachers are prepared to teach and facilitate a robotic curriculum and students are provided with an exciting robotics-style competition camp. Our goal is well-prepared teachers who will be able to teach a beginner level 1 semester robotics class.
Fee: $5000 for up-to 5 teachers and 25 students
Click here for a downloadable pdf of information! Limited availability!! Please contact Sasha Crabtrey at scrabtrey@hcde-texas.org for more information.
Thompson & Marcet Inc Robotics: Disaster Relief
Your mission, if you choose to accept it is to save Houston from a natural disaster! Mission: A natural disaster has occurred in Houston and there are people who need your help. Fires, debris, and chemicals in the air make many areas too hazardous for human beings. We need robotics engineers to solve the problem! You have 4 days to build a robot. On the 5th day, your robot will go into action and perform rescue/repair missions. Your bot will be constructed out of Tetrix robotics which is a remote control, state of the art, aluminum frame with DC motors/Servos. Then put those new skills to the test in a problem-solving styled competition!
How to groom the problem solvers of tomorrow? Involve them in the All-Earth EcoBot Challenge today.
Imagine it is 2030 and a new generation of adults is in charge of Houston. What are they like? Did they grow up here? Do they have the love for and understanding of Houston that we do? Read more...
The EcoBot Challenge is a workforce development competition with judged engineering and marketing components. 4-person student teams build and learn to program autonomous robots to accomplish tasks related to energy generation, environmental awareness and real-world workforce opportunities. The Challenge reinforces the applicability of school-time learning and shows students how improving and adding to their skills can help them lead productive lives. The Challenge opens students' minds to futures in our region's industries and accelerates networking to the advantage of future generations. EcoBot Challenge teams may enter through schools, community organizations and youth groups. In 2009, 54 teams participated; in subsequent years over 1000 students have participated, including students who came to Houston from Brownsville, Edinburg, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Bryan. In 2012, on February 25 in Humble ISD and on March 3 at HCDE, two Challenge days occurred for over 1,000 students. On April 14, 12 of those 4-person student teams competed at the first ever Bot-Off Invitational. Read more...
A new 2-classroom science lab building is the setting for one of the Foundation's boldest initiatives yet. Sophisticated technology makes it possible to transmit innovative learning workshops, seminars and other educational opportunities to our region's teachers and students in a broad array of subjects which may be accessed by others elsewhere in the State of Texas.
"Learning accelerators" enable teachers to be successful and enthused teaching complex chemistry and applied physics to our most fearless & impressionable young learners! Innovative workshops entitled "Science Fiction: Teaching Chemistry with Children's Literature" and "Science Fiction: Teaching Physics with Children's Literature" are offered often on a monthly basis for prek-4th grade teachers. The Education Foundation provides instructors with original materials and lesson plans including supplies for the classroom. Strengthening and supporting school teachers to be successful teaching science with young children opens all kinds of doors to future educational achievement!
Daily after-school and out-of-school time programs on over 100 area campuses provide students with additional time to learn. Quality programs extend the school day learning environment. After school time is flexible and learning is customized - for instance, students can study the history of money and learn financial management skills at a bank, or visit institutions in the Medical Center and learn forensic science - or be at the HP Campus or at Lockheed Martin! Research shows that students who participate in after school programming are the most likely to stay in school and aspire to college. Any local business or corporation can become involved in after-school education, thereby creating opportunities for all children.
The Education Foundation of Harris County is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that supports innovative educational programs for
the over 800,000 K-12 public education students in the greater Houston/Harris County region. Our areas of focus highlight the
creation of opportunities for all children by advancing excellence and promoting innovation in public education.
For more information, please call 713-696-8290.
Education Foundation of Harris County - 6300 Irvington Blvd. - Houston, TX 77022-5618
How to groom the problem solvers of tomorrow? Involve them in the All-Earth EcoBot Challenge today.
"Learning accelerators" enable teachers to be successful and enthused teaching complex chemistry and applied physics to our most fearless & impressionable young learners! Innovative workshops entitled "Science Fiction: Teaching Chemistry with Children's Literature" and "Science Fiction: Teaching Physics with Children's Literature" are offered often on a monthly basis for prek-4th grade teachers. The Education Foundation provides instructors with original materials and lesson plans including supplies for the classroom. Strengthening and supporting school teachers to be successful teaching science with young children opens all kinds of doors to future educational achievement!
Daily after-school and out-of-school time programs on over 100 area campuses provide students with additional time to learn. Quality programs extend the school day learning environment. After school time is flexible and learning is customized - for instance, students can study the history of money and learn financial management skills at a bank, or visit institutions in the Medical Center and learn forensic science - or be at the HP Campus or at Lockheed Martin! Research shows that students who participate in after school programming are the most likely to stay in school and aspire to college. Any local business or corporation can become involved in after-school education, thereby creating opportunities for all children.