The Exploratory became an autonomous NGO in Ghana in August, 2016

The Exploratory seeks to empower communities and students (mostly girls) by transforming rote learning and teaching within and beyond the classroom. We enhance quality education by inspiring students through STEM and ICT, engage teachers in quality teaching and learning and nurturing future leaders that are conversant in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, ICT and more.

In rural communities in Ghana, public schools lack resources and teachers lack up-to-date training, to make teaching and learning of STEM effective and interesting. Additionally, girls are often discouraged from pursuing STEM related courses because of expectations related to their gender and other academic myths. A fundamental leveling force in society is access to education; and in this increasingly technological world, where solutions to many social problems have a basis in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and where public policy requires a rudimentary understanding of STEM; having access to practical STEM education, to develop STEM literacy in the broadest sense, is essential for participation in civic life and in both the micro and macro economy.

Mission

The Exploratory seeks to empower communities and students (mostly girls) by transforming rote learning and teaching within and beyond the classroom.

What We Do

Exploratory engages in five flagship programs that seek to arrive at the vision and goals of its existence. These are;

Our Approach

Teacher Training and Support

Training helps teachers become sensitive to the learning environments and redesign them to become STEM literates. We empower them to identify other resources in their community; to form peer learning groups; to come up with their own devices etc. Their curiosity, learning and enthusiasm will positively impact the learning of their students. By introducing various active learning techniques to teachers, and letting them practice them in clubs, they go beyond the “sage on the stage”, didactic form of teaching, to one where small group work, guiding questions, and discussion, etc are encouraged.

Our Approach

Exploratory STEM Clubs

Clubs allow students to experience hands-on learning, familiarity with the physical world, and give them greater confidence in their ability to understand STEM. Having teachers who are sensitive to their needs, and having students work in small group environments allow them to ask and answer questions safely and to check in with each other. They support each other and gain confidence in their academic ability and are motivated to try harder. Club activities also include Role Model Visits, Design Challenge, Community Engagement, Field Trips to observe real life applications of STEM. These activities promote students’ awareness of, and interest in careers in STEM and beyond, thereby increasing their aspirations.

Our Approach

Connecting Students and Teachers with STEM Resources

By introducing teachers to hands-on and digital learning materials, they themselves become more engaged, and have the means to tie practical learning with the theoretical. We have a well-equipped STEM Center where teachers and students get the opportunity to learn and explore basic and advanced STEM concepts through hands-on activities.

Special Programs

We innovate to empower students across the country

Design Challenge

Design Challenges, dubbed ‘#Solve4Ghana Design Challenge provides the avenue for students to be challenged at the end of the academic year to design solutions using locally available resources. This opportunity bridges the disconnect that exists between the classroom and the community. Students get the chance to apply their ‘wild and unconventional’ ideas after their experience from their classroom and Club sessions to build prototypes of their solutions to community and national problems and present them to a panel of judges for assessments. This mini science festival attracts audiences far and wide and from various fields to learn and appreciate the works and innovations of the students. The Design Challenge is held to climax the academic year. Prices are awarded to winning contestants and their respective schools. Highly promising students are also given bursaries and other supports to spur them to achieve more while underperforming students are also encouraged and motivated to also work hard to achieve success the following year.  

Field Trips

During the course of the academic year, our explorers embark on excursions to STEM driven institutions. Field trips connect students to STEM in the real world. It gives them first-hand understanding of processes and concepts and their applications. It gives our explorers enough avenues to understand the ideas and operations of these institutions. 

Role Model Visits

It is one of the strategic initiatives by the Exploratory to expose basic school children to various career fields related to science. Through the program, the students get to experience ‘one-on-one’ interactions with seasoned professionals from varying professions in the field of science. During this period, the Role Models interact with the students through their background, opportunities, challenges and ways to overcome such challenges as the students decide to pursue their career goals in STEM. Three Role Model Visits are held in each academic year.

Log In

Donate