Listen "30: Project-Based STEM Opportunities w/ Dr. Ben Finio"
Episode Synopsis
All it takes is one pivotal moment in a student’s life to inspire a lifetime of learning or a future vocation. In this episode of Authentic Educators, our guest is Dr. Ben Finio, the Lead Staff Scientist for Science Buddies, a nonprofit that designs STEM exercises for students K-12. Our conversation focuses on an incredible project he works on which challenges students to design various structures using basic building blocks. This year’s challenge is a Ball Run; prior years’ challenges include a Rocket Catcher and Rubber Band Car challenge.In the episode, Dr. Finio fondly recalls a moment in his education when he got to build a structure out of toothpicks. This key moment in his educational journey helped inspire his pursuit of engineering in college. The engineering challenge doesn’t take a ton of class time and is suitable for K-12 educators.
More episodes of the podcast Authentic Educators
27: Students Take the Lead
18/11/2025
25: Cultural Connections w/ Kayla Angstadt
21/10/2025
22: Trauma Informed Pedagogy w/ Brooke Burgy
09/09/2025
20: End of Year Reflection
03/06/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.