The San Francisco 49ers education consulting venture, EDU Academy, announced on Wednesday a partnership with the National Soccer Hall of Fame (NSHOF) to introduce a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) education program to Texas youth. The program will be housed in the NSHOF at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas and leverage soccer as a common interest point for engaging students in STEAM subjects.
The NSHOF student field trip experience will include on-site learning time, tours of Toyota Stadium, and a physical activity component. All visits will be standards-aligned with a specific pedagogical focus on project-based learning and 21st Century learning skills.
"We are eager to bring unique STEAM education programming to Texas youth with the help of EDU Academy," said Djorn Buchholz, executive director of NSHOF. "EDU Academy's proven platform will complement our upcoming efforts that will ultimately yield countless conversations with students around the synergies of soccer and STEAM."
Modeled after 49ers EDU's successful STEAM education platform, which has engaged more than 210,000 K-8 Bay Area participants in STEAM learning through football over four years, the NSHOF will work alongside EDU Academy to develop the program's STEAM curriculum. The program to be developed at the NSHOF will use soccer as a common denominator and intrigue-point to engage learners. The program will be aligned to standards, infuse project-based learning and reinforce key life skills for students. The student experience will include at-museum learning time, tours of the NSHOF/Toyota Stadium, and a physical activity component.
"The 49ers and EDU Academy are proud to support the National Soccer Hall of Fame's commitment to positively impact the lives of educators and children in the Dallas area through the power of sport," said Jesse Lovejoy, director of 49ers EDU and managing partner of EDU Academy. "We're thrilled to call them a partner and look forward to working together to get kids excited about STEAM education concepts through the lens of soccer."
Teachers will apply for the program and schools will be selected based on specific criteria set for participation. The program will focus on providing access to underserved communities alongside the broader student population in Frisco and the surrounding area. More details on the application process, service range and logistical elements will be released in the Fall.
Slated to open in October 2018, the NSHOF – located in Toyota Stadium's south end – is the first major league sports hall of fame to be built within a stadium. NSHOF's education program will launch in Spring 2019.
