What do you get when you combine a master’s degree in robotics engineering, a teaching certification and a mom on the hunt for a place to keep her kids busy? For Amy Torf, the answer was simple. In 2013, she opened Noggin Builders, a hands-on science center in Northbrook, and never looked back. Today, as STEM jobs are the future of our economy, the concept – billed as “the place for curious kids” – is even more relevant.
“The idea behind Noggin Builders is rooted in teaching the skills of building and creating,” says Torf. “We take education in a direction that is more exploratory than what’s in the classroom and allow kids the opportunity to be able to explore while they are learning.”
Noggin Builders offers weekly classes for kids (Grades Pre-K to 8) and competitive STEM teams in their brick-and-mortar location in Northbrook. They also work off-site at more than a dozen locations.
Q&A with Amy Torf
How does hands-on learning enhance what kids do in the classroom?
Torf says that even the most phenomenal classroom doesn’t have the time or materials to be able to do exploratory learning.
“Instead of reading an article in a book, watching a video or filling out a worksheet, imagine taking the STEM skills you learned and using materials to build, create, test, improve and ask questions.”
Torf notes that through hands-on learning, students also learn important skills like creative problem solving, collaboration, resilience and flexible thinking.
Why is STEM more important now than ever before?
Torf says that data shows that more than 75 percent of careers in the future are going to use STEM. Additionally, it is also projected that STEM occupations will grow faster than non-STEM occupations.
“STEM is one of the best ways to learn how to be a critical thinker and creative problem solver,” says Torf. “These skills are keys to the future success of our children and to the creation of a better world.”
For a long time, there’s been a particular push for women in STEM. Have we closed that gap?
Torf says that there is still a huge differential in the number of women to men in STEM. While there is still pressure to get girls to get involved in STEM, ultimately, she says, the approach should be different.
“It’s not equitable to say that ‘this is a separate program for girls in STEM’,” she says. “We want to try to encourage girls to have the same experience as their male counterparts. “The more we introduce STEM in general to kids, that’s how we are going to get more girls involved.”
A core part of your business is a deep commitment to giving back. Can you tell us about your non-profit?
“Equity is really important to me, and there is a huge opportunity gap for children who do not have early STEM education in their lives,” Torf says. “Because we also know that STEM is going to be such an important factor in the future, kids who are already at a disadvantage are not being given the opportunity to learn the skills they need to be able to handle the even greater challenges that are coming their way.”
In 2020, she established the Noggin Builders Foundation to provide free STEM programs to children in low-income areas. Each month, they serve over 1,800 children. This upcoming school year, the foundation has a goal of providing 12,000 hours of free STEM education.
Fast Talk with Amy Torf
Your to-go coffee order:
I only drink water!
Your favorite place to eat out with your family?
Spirit Elephant [in Winnetka]. I have an egg allergy, so I often feel safest eating at vegan restaurants.
Your personal saying:
Problems are not failures — they are an expected part of the learning process. Embrace them as opportunities for growth.
Your secret obsession:
Musical theater. I like to perform in 2-3 shows each year.
If you could change anything about your life, what would it be?
I wish I had more time to learn – I would take more classes, read more books, and explore new skills.
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