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Where the stories and people of the KCI community come together to learn, share, and connect

Data Privacy 101

What Every Teacher Needs to Know About AI Tools & Data When I first heard about data privacy, it felt like an abstract concern. Like something for IT departments to handle. But as I’ve learned, it’s also up to teachers to protect our students in the digital age, especially with the rise of generative AI…

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Makerspace employee and Foothill College student, Jon Armer, works on prototype of PPE headband

KCI Makerspace Prints Face Shield Headbands for Local Healthcare Providers

Krause Center for Innovation, part of the Foothill DeAnza Community College District in Los Altos Hills, California, is taking on the fight against personal protective equipment PPE shortages. Since the March 14 closure of KCI’s physical offices, located at Foothill College, makerspace staff have been busy developing partnerships, procuring materials, and prototyping products. The makerspace’s…

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Computer Science Programs Continue to Draw Educators

KCI recognized the need for computer science professional development programs over four years ago, even as schools and districts were still trying to determine how CS fits within their curriculum offerings. Last September, the State Board of Education adopted California’s first-ever computer science standards. Although not mandatory, these standards are expected to increase the number…

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Makerspace Coordinator training

KCI Makerspace Coordinator Program a Hit

Over fifty people are on track to receive their Makerspace Coordinator Certificates after the KCI held three, week-long intensives this summer. The Certificate marks the completion of 18 units of coursework, and is one of only two in California that is state approved. Participants hailed from all over California and came from many diverse backgrounds,…

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KCI Computer Science Programs Serve Critical Role

A strong demand for computer science (CS) professional development exists in the Bay Area. Parents are requesting that schools offer CS courses, but few teachers are appropriately trained to teach CS. Even though California has not completed its computer science standards for education, it’s clear that teachers are interested in how they can integrate CS…

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Makerspace Certificate Program in class

Makerspace Certificate Program Provides Training for New Career Path

Makerspaces are popping up across the educational spectrum, at schools, libraries, and youth centers. The Maker Movement has revitalized an interest in hands-on projects and the use of various tools for designing and prototyping. Once-empty school shops and computer labs are being reborn as makerspaces, and the curriculum is gender-neutral so girls and boys have…

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Student in makerspace

New Camps for Kids Scheduled This Summer

KCI offered two very successful integrated engineering camps for kids last summer, and with the opening of the KCI Makerspace, we are poised to serve an even broader audience of kids, ages 11–16, at KCI Summer Camp at Foothill College. Choosing from an offering of four camps, students will flex their creativity as they engineer…

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KCI Launches Vibrant New Makerspace

In December of 2017, KCI launched an exciting new resource for our local community, the KCI Makerspace. This space provides our community with the resources to design and “make,” using a variety of computer-aided design and manufacturing tools. The goal is to be a regional resource for many KCI constituents: Foothill College’s students and staff,…

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Local Teachers Try Their Hands at Coding & More

While many schools and districts are still trying to figure out how computer science (CS) activities and courses fit within the educational landscape, teachers are seeing the future and showing high interest in and enthusiasm for professional CS learning opportunities. This was certainly the case over the summer when KCI conducted two Computer Science Crash…

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2017 FAME Program Inspires Math Teachers to Rethink Their Classrooms

Student math proficiency, especially in algebra and geometry, is still proving to be difficult for many schools and districts, and success in algebra is a strong indicator of whether or not a student will attend and complete college. Hence, the KCI has continued to offer and evolve the FAME (Faculty Academy for Mathematics Excellence) program,…

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KCI / Foothill College Awarded Two-Year Maker Grant

Sponsored by the state chancellor’s office, the California Community Colleges (CCC) Maker initiative recently announced the recipients for a two-year grant, and Foothill College/KCI made the cut. The initiative was launched with the goal to drive innovation in education, and ultimately to prepare students for success in STEM/STEAM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math)….

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