New “Anywhere Labs” Funded as Part of AT&T’s $10 Million Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund
Gaithersburg, MD – July 21, 2020 – Learning Undefeated, a non-profit organization committed to bringing STEM education opportunities to underserved communities, is releasing brand new distance learning units with the help of AT&T. Called “Anywhere Labs,” the standards-aligned units include laboratory explorations and brand new activities specifically created for digital classrooms.
Anywhere Labs are made possible by support from AT&T’s Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund. This fund was developed to give parents, students and teachers tools they need for students to succeed in a digital learning space. The fund also provides resources to maintain meaningful connections and bonding opportunities for those physically isolated from family and friends.
As a part of this fund, AT&T is contributing $250,000 to Learning Undefeated, a trusted resource for teachers for nearly 20 years, to convert the organization’s rigorous laboratory curriculum to authentic STEM distance learning resources. With this donation, the organization will serve millions of grade 6-12 students learning from home or in a hybrid classroom arrangement this school year. It will also help to equip state and local school systems to meet STEM education requirements in a modified learning environment.
“Our communities and schools are grappling with an unprecedented challenge,” said Denis Dunn, President – AT&T Maryland, DC & Delaware. “Connecting people with the resources they need to maintain a sense of normalcy is paramount. For students and teachers, that means creating a digital learning environment that keeps them engaged with STEM activities, even as they are learning from home. We’ve worked with the team at Learning Undefeated for many years and know they’ll do great things for students and educators they serve.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major shift in education, requiring teachers and students to quickly implement and adapt to a new way of learning. As one of the few organizations specializing in rapid deployment of STEM education resources following a crisis, Learning Undefeated has previously deployed STEM education laboratories, curriculum, and educators to areas affected by 2017’s Hurricane Harvey and the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes.
“We know firsthand how important it is to get students back to learning following a crisis,” said Brian Gaines, CEO of Learning Undefeated. “We run the risk of students losing interest in STEM, which impacts the future of innovation in our country. We need to be forward thinking and work together to keep the STEM leaders of the future engaged.”
Program components include real-time, mobile-friendly access to standards-aligned laboratory investigations for middle and high school, multimedia STEM resources, collaborative assignment tools, and interactive assessments. Content areas include biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and environmental science. Lessons are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), currently in use in 22 states, and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
All content is available online for free to teachers, parents, and caregivers in any US state or territory. The distance learning resources can be accessed and downloaded at http://anywherelabs.org.
As circumstances surrounding COVID-19 change daily, so too does the impact on our communities. To best allocate resources from the Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund, AT&T is working alongside families, educators and community leaders to understand the challenges they will face in the days and weeks to come. To learn about additional tools and resources available nationwide through the Fund, visit AT&T’s site.
For parents and caregivers, we know this time has brought a multitude of new and unexpected challenges. And we also know the need for broadband connectivity has never been greater. For that reason, AT&T is committed to making home internet affordable with our Access from AT&T Program. This program provides home internet access at $10 a month for limited income households. We’ve also increased eligibility to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start. (This service is only available in AT&T’s wireline states.)
About Learning Undefeated
Learning Undefeated provides life-changing STEM experiences for under resourced communities by providing equitable access to education and inspiring students to imagine their own success. Through innovative and experiential education programs for grades K-12, we are sparking interest in STEM careers and building the workforce that will drive the innovation economy. Learning Undefeated’s flagship education program features mobile STEM labs that have provided hands-on learning opportunities to nearly 200,000 K-12 students in 18 states since 2003. Learning Undefeated also operates several other celebrated STEM education programs including the Young Science Explorers Program, a summer camp for middle school students; Advancing Tomorrow’s Leaders in STEM (ATLAS) College and Career Exploration Program; STEM Leadership Experience; student competitions; after-school programs; curriculum development; and disaster recovery education. Visit learningundefeated.org or follow on social media @LearningUNDFTD.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. We have a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities, promote academic and economic achievement, and address community needs. Our AT&T Aspire initiative uses innovation in education to drive student success in school and beyond. With a financial commitment of $550 million since 2008, AT&T is leveraging technology, relationships and social innovation to help all students make their biggest dreams a reality.
About AT&T Communications
We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we innovate to improve lives. We have the nation’s fastest wireless network.** And according to America’s biggest test, we have the nation’s best wireless network.*** We’re building FirstNet® just for first responders and creating next-generation mobile 5G. With a range of TV and video products, we deliver entertainment people love to talk about. Our smart, highly secure solutions serve nearly 3 million global businesses – nearly all of the Fortune 1000. And worldwide, our spirit of service drives employees to give back to their communities.
AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Learn more at att.com/CommunicationsNews.
AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att and on YouTube at youtube.com/att.
© 2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
**Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data median download speeds for Q2 2020. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.
***GWS OneScore, September 2019.
