Tiny Labs for Future Leaders

We create citizen scientists by providing low cost, hands on science and tech tools, teacher training, and support to schools. We take the best content from the best teachers and bring them to schools through easily viewed videos customized to the local language.

Department of Science and Technology states that majority of science teachers are unqualified (73% physics, 66% chemistry) and many have not graduated from a science course but are forced to teach the subject despite their lack of mastery/confidence in the material. This has led to teachers reading out of textbooks, relying on rote-based teaching, thus failing to keep science engaging and relevant to the lives of their students. Compounded by the lack of science lab facilities, materials, and the persistence of overcrowded classrooms, Filipino students are at a great disadvantage from learning the 21st century skills needed to succeed.

Proof of concept: Raine, a homeschooling mom took her children to the wet market armed with one of our fish rulers. They measured locally available fish and identified if they were a healthy size, collecting data according to the scientific method. They thought critically about the importance of comparing the number of undersized and healthy fish. They communicated their findings on our online platform which collated the data and allowed them to make sense of it. They were then asked how to solve the identified problem of overfishing which encouraged creative innovation and collaboration making them citizen scientists.

In the short term, our goals are to engage students in meaningful science connected to their community, raise assessment scores, and support teachers in effective instruction. We want to create lifelong learners. Our low cost science and tech tools mapped to Department of Education standards reduce teacher’s class prep time and removes the difficulty of integrating new material. Students learn the 6C’s of 21st century learning including content/knowledge, critical thinking, communication, creative innovation, collaboration, and confidence through hands on, relevant lessons. Labs are delivered through local couriers and online videos matched to each lab will soon be available online.

Track data input on website - Data input by students and teachers on the Tiny Labs site

Gather data from partner schools - Assessment scores

Track downloads on our website - Number of video downloads

Science kits and textbooks can be purchased online or in bookstores, free videos and classes can be accessed on the internet BUT few are designed for the Philippine setting. ROSE review (2004) argues that science should match the context where students learn & lack of relevance is one of the greatest barriers for learning. Our labs are designed for the Philippine context at a lower cost than other science materials you will find on the market. They also come with easily downloadable videos and text that can be easily switched out for any of the local dialects or other languages.

We have built a system where text in video is easily substituted and reconfigured, helping easily localize instructions at very little cost per language. While so much free content exists online, there is still a need for content and material suited to local needs, and representation from teachers in developing countries, in contexts that are relevant to their students. We are in the midst of creating videos for each of our boxes. Imagine the best teachers across the developing world demonstrating the best content and sharing it to be easily adopted by other teachers.

Currently, our boxes are delivered using local couriers. LBC Foundation delivers our products free of charge for beneficiaries. As we continue to develop videos, teachers will be able to download the lessons and gather the needed materials to complete the activities at a lower cost. Each box
costs $15 and serves 25 students, that’s $ 0.60/student. The current cost to develop a video is $60.

Involvement of beneficiaries:
Public school teachers who applied for our Lab in a Boxes are now testing new curriculum they created and uploading the experience as an online class for other teachers. http://tiny-labs.teachable.com/p/integrating- student-lead- community-projects

Sales of online content and distribution and licensing of materials to publishers. We are currently talking to a publisher that holds majority of the private school market share. One private purchase of a Lab in a Box supports the science experience of 10 public school students.

One of our biggest hurdles is getting the Department of Education to include our program in the annual budget for public schools despite requests from principals, teachers, and parents. Also, the time it takes to build a relationship with schools. 

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As a Solver, we would have access to experts in STEAM and educational technology who can advise us on content, materials, and product delivery. This will allow us to scale in our country and the rest of Asia as we formulate how best to address the educational gaps faced by countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and India who have already inquired about making our curriculum available in their schools. Our team's collective experience in education, entrepreneurship, marketing, and health will benefit the SOLVE community as we share our failures and successes with the network.

-private institutions/schools: the Mind Museum, Homeschool Global, The Learning Child, Xavier School, The Learning Child, Roosevelt College

-parent groups: Filipino-American Google moms, Manila for Kids

-non- profits: LBC Foundation, Advancement for Rural Kids, Inc. 

-public schools: Teach for the Philippines associated public schools 

DIWA Publishing

Vibal Publishing