Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 3 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 3 (2023)

At present, our country’s industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled workforce. Assisting factories and enterprises in cultivating talent involves engaging gifted and interested children in technical creative work, thereby motivating them to pursue further education in essential fields. What sets our project apart is its ability not only to teach design, construction, and programming of devices of varying complexities but also to guide children from school to a vocational school and further to an enterprise.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MODEL

Class passes, grant funds, investors (city businesses interested in future workforce).

IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. Subject matter skills acquired by children in the classroom.

We assess the children’s subject knowledge twice a year. At the start of the year, they either take a test or complete a practical assignment, such as soldering together a circuit board or coding a mathematical algorithm in a programming language. At the end of the year, the students complete their individual projects, all addressing specific practical tasks and tailored to the respective age groups. Some kids make a short track machine, while others tackle the challenge of building their own mini-CNC mill. We aim to ensure that the level of subject skills and knowledge in our groups remains at least 75 %.

2. Soft skills (communication skills, critical thinking, etc.)

Soft skills development is evaluated via questionnaires filled out by parents. Many parents link the improvement in their children’s diligence with participation in our classes (68 % of parents mentioned this skill). However, we also focus on fostering communication skills among the children. Since robotics and electronics involve teamwork, we encourage the kids to effectively communicate with each other and discuss the distribution of responsibilities and objectives within their projects.

Participating in competitions and Olympics also plays a significant role in honing their soft skills. 27 of our students showcased their talents in various events in 2022. 11 of them won various prizes and awards. Two children even made it to the regional level of the Russian National School Olympics in Computer Science.

3. Preparing kids to make career choices.

To measure our students’ preparation to making career choices, we observe the disciplines they choose for their Basic State Examinations or Universal State Examinations, and their enrollment decisions. Here we see a strong correlation between their performance and the duration of their attendance. For instance, currently 95 % of the kids who have been with us for more than 2 years opt for computer science or physics as their exam disciplines. However, our main goal is not just to guide our students towards engineering universities. What matters most to us is that after completing our courses, each child can clearly state their professional choices and identify what truly excites them about their chosen careers.

Center for Neuropsychological Correction of Children and Adolescents

Improving the Quality of Life and Social Adaptation of Children with Developmental Disorders.

www.cndip.ru

The Center provides remedial classes (neuropsychological correction, speech therapy, ABA therapy) for children and adolescents with developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and learning difficulties. The purpose of the classes is to help the students acquire vital life skills, adapt to society, and overcome learning difficulties.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED

About one in 44 children at the age of eight are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, boys being affected on average 4 times more frequently than girls. These statistics are supported by data from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Russian Ministry of Health, the occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Russia mirrors global rates, affecting roughly 1 % of the child population. This translates to an estimated 300,000 or more ASD cases diagnosed in Russia, based on the country’s 30 million children.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the only scientifically proven method for working with children diagnosed with ASD. Unfortunately, less than 5 % of children with ASD have access to this treatment. Several factors contribute to this situation, including the high cost of the therapy, which typically requires 2 to 5 years of regular sessions. Additionally, there is a lack of awareness among both parents and professionals, as well as a noticeable absence of government involvement in supporting families with children on the spectrum.