Chicago teenagers will get some hands-on experience with advanced technology this school year thanks to the Geek Squad.
The City of Chicago announced last week that Best Buy has donated $100,000 to the Chicago City of Learning, a city-wide after-school program designed to teach students about technology. The Geek Squad will bring tech experts to CCOL locations and teach students about 3D printing, robotics, audio and video production, and other skills, according to a news release.
“The Chicago City of Learning program continues to engage our kids, opening the doors to a variety of learning opportunities across the city,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in the release. “The additional resources provided by Best Buy’s Geek Squad Academy will allow Chicago’s youth to explore a future in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. This will help prepare our children with the skills and education they need for college and a successful career.”
The CCOL launched in 2013 out of the Chicago Summer of Learning. It's the first program of its kind in the U.S. Students acquire badges based on the skills they learn, which then allows them to unlock more learning opportunities. The badges will be beneficial for the students in gaining internships and job, the organization said.
The CCOL is led by DePaul University's City of Chicago Digital Youth Network.
“For the families of young Chicagoans, CCOL is a significant resource. No matter what the interest, Chicago has it,” Nicole Pinkard of the Digital Youth Network at DePaul University said in the release. “As youth explore what our great city has to offer, we are excited to partner with Best Buy to provide technology education opportunities for Chicago youth.”
Public Domain Image via Wiki Commons by True Tech Talk Time
