Build, Learn, and Teach with JellySTEM

Project 1 — JellySTEM Fabrication & Assembly Tutorials (Moodle)

For makers who like building things and explaining how they work.

Create complete, classroom-ready JellySTEM tutorials covering the physical build and manufacturing workflow:

• Build tutorials: assembly instructions and explanation of each component

• Fabrication tutorials: 3D slicing/printing and laser cutting (recommended settings + common mistakes)

• Usage tutorials: how to prepare and operate the finished project

• Delivery: organize and publish everything as an easy-to-follow Moodle e-learning course for students and teachers

• Standards alignment: map the tutorials to education standards for VA, NC, WV, and MD

What you gain (intern advantages)

• Build a strong portfolio: real tutorials used by students and teachers

• Learn to explain technical procedures clearly

• Hands-on experience with 3D printing and laser cutting workflows

• Understanding how structured courses are created and delivered online

• Real classroom-level documentation experience

• Preparation toward becoming a JellySTEM Certified Guru and leading summer programs

Project 2 — MakeCode Programming Course for Beginners (JellySTEM)

For students who enjoy teaching beginners and turning complex ideas into simple steps.

Create an engaging MakeCode tutorial series that introduces complete beginners to programming through JellySTEM projects.

The course must be simple, fun, and motivating for young students, while still building real skills step by step.

The learning path will evolve gradually:

• Start with constants and simple blocks

• Move to variables and basic logic

• Then arrays and simple data handling

• Add functions and reusable code

• Introduce using libraries (extensions) the right way

• Teach debugging as a normal part of programming

• Each step should connect to a small, visible result on a JellySTEM project (so students feel progress)

What you gain

• Strong skill in explaining technical topics in a clear, beginner-friendly way

• Experience designing a real learning progression (curriculum design)

• Practice making content that keeps students engaged, not bored

• Deeper understanding of MakeCode by teaching it

• Portfolio material (lesson plans, examples, demos)

• Preparation for running JellySTEM workshops and summer programs with schools

Project 3 — Teacher Guide: Using the micro:bit Ecosystem in Education

For education-minded students who want to help teachers confidently use technology.

Create a practical teacher guide explaining how to use the micro:bit ecosystem as a teaching tool — not only how it works, but how to teach with it.

The goal is to help teachers who are not programmers feel confident running technology lessons.

The guide should explain lesson structure, classroom organization, common student mistakes, and how to support different learning speeds.

The material will also cover the built-in micro:bit educational tools, including AI-assisted support that helps teachers review student code, understand what students tried to do, and evaluate learning progress.

The guide should answer questions teachers actually have:

• How to introduce programming to a class with zero experience

• How to manage a classroom where devices behave differently

• How to debug student programs without knowing everything

• How to evaluate learning instead of only checking if it works

• How to connect projects to physics, math, and engineering concepts

• How to gradually move students from following instructions to independent creation

The result will be a structured teaching handbook used together with JellySTEM projects.

What you gain

• Experience designing materials for real educators, not only students

• Understanding how learning assessment works in practice

• Ability to translate technical systems into teaching methodology

• Insight into classroom management challenges in STEM education

• Valuable experience for careers in education technology or curriculum design

• Preparation for leading teacher trainings and certification workshops

Project 4 — Advanced micro:bit Programming & AI-Assisted Development

For programmers who want real development work and smarter ways to write code.

Work on the advanced software layer of JellySTEM.

This project focuses on creating reusable micro:bit libraries (JavaScript and MicroPython), developing control programs for JellySTEM devices, and defining a clear methodology for AI-assisted programming.

You will design how AI can be used responsibly to generate, refine, and test code — and then apply it to real JellySTEM control systems.

What you gain

• Experience writing structured, reusable embedded libraries

• Practical work in JavaScript and MicroPython on real hardware

• Understanding of how to use AI tools effectively for programming (not just copy-paste)

• Software architecture and code organization skills

• Debugging and testing on physical devices

• Portfolio-level engineering work suitable for technical job applications

• Preparation for leading advanced JellySTEM workshops and mentoring other students

Project 5 — Communication Platform Deployment (IceWarp)

For IT/system-admin oriented students interested in real infrastructure and servers.

Work with the communication and collaboration platform IceWarp and learn how a real company messaging infrastructure is built, configured, and maintained.

You will learn how to deploy the system, configure domains, users, mail flow, security policies, spam protection, calendars, shared documents, and team collaboration tools — and understand how all parts must work together reliably.

This is not only installation. The focus is on proper configuration, stability, and real-world operation of a production communication environment.

You will work directly with the platform developers and learn how decisions are made behind the scenes, why systems fail, and how to design them correctly from the beginning.

What you gain

• Practical system administration experience (far beyond classroom labs)

• Understanding of email infrastructure, DNS, authentication, and security

• Experience with real production configuration and troubleshooting

• Direct contact with the developers of the platform

• Rare, industry-level operational knowledge valued by IT employers

• Strong pathway toward future employment opportunities with IceWarp or similar companies