25 Years of Slime

In recent years, the slime trend has taken the internet by
storm. There are over 13 million posts with #Slime on Instagram! This trend has
even been responsible for glue shortages at craft stores around the world!

High Touch High Tech brought slime to students 25 years ago!
We were the original slime makers!

How is slime made? What makes slime so slimy? Science, of
course! To understand how this non-Newtonian fluid is created, we must
understand a little bit of chemistry. A non-Newtonian fluid is a substance that
is neither a liquid nor a solid! Slime will ooze out of your hands like a
liquid but can be picked up like a solid!

What makes slime so stretchy? We can thank polymers for
slime’s gooey, oozy qualities! Polymers are substances that are made of several
repeating until, these units joining like train cars! To create these polymers,
you must make the chemical reaction to create these polymers! Polymerization,
the chemical reaction that creates a polymer, happens when you mix all the
slime ingredients together!

In our ChemFun program, students are introduced to the world
of chemistry! Your students will become chemists, exploring chemical reactions.
They’ll even get to take home their very own slime!

For more than 25 years, High Touch High Tech has brought
students hands-on science! Throughout the years slime has been a fan favorite,
with a ‘how it works’ lesson at the very core!

Happy 25th Birthday! Things Turning 25 Along with High Touch High Tech

Happy 25th Birthday!

Things Turning 25 Along with High Touch High Tech

 

1994 was an amazing year in world news, technological and scientific advancements.  High Touch High Tech began franchising, Nelson Mandela won the presidency of South Africa, and Amazon and Yahoo were both created, and floppy disks were a thing of everyday life! Take the nostalgic trip down memory lane with us as we reminisce 1994.

 

Amazon and Yahoo

In 1994, the world wide web has just been created. Yahoo and Amazon were both created and grew to the internet giants they are today. Imagine the days before being able to chat with strangers thousands of miles away at any given time! Imagine being unable to order your entire grocery list from your couch through Amazon prime! These websites revolutionized our relationship with the internet, both getting their start alongside High Touch High Tech.

 

Creation of the Element 110, Darmstadtium

Darmstadtium, element 110 was first synthesized in 1994! There were several failed attempts to create element 110, and was first successfully made that year. While chemists Yuri Ganessian and Vladimir Utyonkov created the very first Darmstadtium particles through cold fusion, credit for the first successful synthesizing goes to Sigurd Hofmann, Peter Armbruster and Gottfried Münzenberg of Darmstadt, Germany where the element earned its name. The German scientists created the element by bombarding lead with nickel, and their evidence was deeming more credible and confirmed by other scientists throughout the world. Darmstadtium is a highly radioactive metal, and few atoms have ever been created!

 

PlayStation

 

The very first PlayStation was released by Sony in 1994. While PlayStation wasn’t the sole gaming console on the market, then competing with the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn, the PlayStation was game changing. With a CD format and sleek design, the PlayStation became the first gaming console to sell 100 million units worldwide! While many trends and gaming consoles have come and gone, PlayStation has remained a key player for 25 years.

 

 

Living fossil Wollemi Pine found

Before 1994, the Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) was believed to be extinct, only having been seen in fossils. The plant is from a line of evolutionary plants, dating back to the dinosaurs, long believed to have been extinct. In 1994, the plant was discovered in the remote, rainforest gorge of Australia. Currently, there are about 80 mature plants and 300 seedlings. The Wollemi pine produces various types of foliage depending on the age of the leaf, and the leaf’s position on the tree. Newer foliage is apple-green in color and frond-like. As the plant develops, the foliage becomes a blue-green color, giving it a Jurassic appearance with dual leaf rows on its branches. The mature trees have a bubbling chocolate appearance, as spongy nodules develop on its bark.

Nelson Mandela Elected President of South Africa

Until 1994, the Apartheid government of South Africa only allowed black voters elect Bantustan or homeland candidates. The Bantu Homelands Citizenship Act had stripped black citizens of South Africa of their citizenship, making them citizens of their segregated homelands, or Bantu, in the apartheid state. In 1994 these homelands ceased to exist and were incorporated into the general South African elections, making this election the first multiracial election in South African history. On May 10th of 1994, Nelson Mandela, at the age of 77, was inaugurated as South Africa’s first place president. He tirelessly worked as president to address the issues caused by the apartheid, poverty, inequality, lack of social services and infrastructure, and building a strong economy. Nelson Mandela’s presidency reconciled and strengthened the nation of South Africa, becoming a beacon of progress throughout the world.

 

 

 

Western Hemisphere Declared Free of Polio

Poliomyelitis, more commonly known as polio, was a disease which left survivors permanently disabled. Each few years polio epidemics would plague cities and towns, leaving a trail of death and paralysis behind it. Most famous of all polio survivors being President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, being paralyzed waist down by the disease at age 39. FDR founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in 1938, which would lead to the development of vaccinations for polio. In 1908, polio was identified as a virus by Dr. Karl Landsteiner after filtering preparations of spinal fluid of persons killed by polio. Later in 1910, Dr. Simon Flexner identified “germicidal substances” in the blood of monkeys that survived the polio virus, identifying the antibodies to polio which are the necessary agents in developing a vaccination.

Two separate teams of researchers developed early forms of the polio vaccination in 1935, both vaccinations ending in allergic reactions, illnesses, paralysis, and some deaths. For another 25 years, there were unfortunate trials and errors of an effective polio vaccination, but in the year 1960 Albert Sabin’s poliovirus vaccination for Type 1 poliovirus was licensed and formally recommended by the U.S. Surgeon general. Three years after this licensure, a vaccination for poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3 were combined creating one vaccination of the disease.  In the year 1994, polio was completely eradicated in the Western Hemisphere. While there are still cases of polio globally, there has been more than a 99% reduction of polio cases worldwide, proven the Poliomyelitis vaccination a simple and effective.

The Transition in Technology from 1994

So many of our everyday life depends on the internet; work, entertainment, communication, information, monetary transactions, networking, marketing, and education. In 1994, the World Wide Web invented by Tim Berners-Lee, and became the Internet we know and depend on today.

In 1994 there was no Google, no Hulu and Netflix, no smartphones, no YouTube, no social media, and no flat-screen TVs. Let’s look back at our very humble internet and technology beginnings.

The First Website

 

 

 

Windows Operating System

Yahoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program Installation, installed via floppy disk

 

 

 

 

GameBoy Games

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before Netflix and streaming sites, you had to go to a Blockbuster or video store to watch a movie

 

 

 

 

 

 

VHS Movies, the DVD was invented in 1995

 

 

 

 

 

No one had an email, or much access to the internet, so faxing was the go-to for messages 

 

 

Cell phones, whose battery was the size of the phone.  Free of a camera, touch screen, and texting.

 

 

 

CD Players, because there were no iPods, Pandora, or Spotify.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technology is constantly developing, and we’ve come a long way since 1994. As new inventions are developed, technology takes an increasing large role in our lives. We at High Touch High Tech believe in developing the next generation of inventors, granting us to the innovations of our future.

 

 

High Touch High Tech

800.444.4968

info@ScienceMadeFun.net

 

 

Sources Cited:
Barker, E. “25 Moments That Defined 1994.” NME, Jan. 2014. Retrieved from: https://www.nme.com/photos/25-moments-that-defined-1994-1422189
Sony Interactive Entertainment. “PlayStation, Through the Years.” PlayStation, Sep. 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/explore/ps4/playstation-through-the-years/
Robertson, M. “Darmstadtium.” Royal Society of Chemistry, 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/110/darmstadtium
The Global Trees Campaign. “Threatened Trees, Wollemi Pine.” Fauna and Flora International, 2017. Retrieved from: https://globaltrees.org/threatened-trees/trees/wollemi-pine/
South African History Online. “The Nelson Mandela Presidency – 1994 to 1999.” South African History Online Towards a People’s History, August 2019.  Retrieved from: https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/nelson-mandela-presidency-1994-1999
History of Vaccines. “The History of Vaccines, All Timelines Overview.” The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Birthplace of American Medicine, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline#EVT_100340
Bort, J. “No Google. No Netflix. No iPhone. This is What Tech Was Like in 1994.” Business Insider, August 2014. Retrieved from: https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-in-1994-the-year-the-web-was-born-2014-8

 

 

Feature Teacher of the Month

 Feature Teacher: An Interview with Teacher of the Month Chad Johnson

 

Q: Why did you become a teacher?

A: I became a teacher because I had a family member that knew I had experience with kids throughout the years. [This family member] she encouraged me, a long time ago, to pursue education. So, I went back to school and got my certification to be an elementary school teacher.

Q: Do you feel that students get enough science education?

A: Looking across the spectrum I would say probably not. I think [the amount of science education] is school specific. When I first started using High Touch High Tech, I was not in a position that I was teaching science every day.  And to have High Touch High Tech opened me up to the opportunity to get extra work and time with students in the area of science, and I knew that they were teaching the objectives for my state.

Q: Why is science education so important for your students?

A: Science education is important because it’s the way the world is trending. Everything is technology, everything is integrated. Everything that we teachers do, at some level, is technology integrated. Anytime we can get kids into anything science or math related that they can use technology as a part of their education is a win.

Q: When did you schedule your first program with High Touch High Tech?

A: I was doing some research on different field trips I could incorporate with my students with science, I came across High Touch High Tech in the spring of 2014. I made reservations for the fall of that year, and I have been scheduling High Touch High Tech ever since then.

Q: How do you feel your students benefit for High Touch High Tech coming to your class?

A: Everything that High Touch High Tech brings completely matches my objectives for our state, so it was a clear-cut option to bring you to my students.

Q: Why would you recommend High Touch High Tech to other schools?

A: The number one reason why I would recommend High Touch High Tech is because it gives my students a break from the norm. As a teacher in the classroom, they hear me giving them information that they need [on a regular basis]. Having someone new come in, with new materials and fun experiences to addition what we do in the class provides them with a unique opportunity.

 

ScienceMadeFunRDU.net

800.444.4968

A Word From the Principal of the Year- Lauren Evans

 

Lauren Evans from Asheville Primary School was named Principal of the Year. Read what she had to say about High Touch High Tech of WNC.

 

 

 

 

10/8/2019

 

To Whom It May Concern:

Asheville Primary School is a public Montessori that services students PreK-3rd grade. Our educational model promotes student centered practices and hands-on experiences. High Touch and High Tech (HTHT) is an excellent accompaniment to our curriculum. Montessori encourages students to research non-fiction topics that are of interest to them. HTHT supports student interests in science and aligns with NC standards. All of our classrooms have had at least 3 “going-outs” with HTHT. A “going-out” is the Montessori equivalent of a field trip. The scientists have been absolutely amazing. Teachers and students have given very positive feedback regarding their experiences with HTHT. The HTHT scientists demonstrate the ability to be flexible and to meet the needs of each classroom. We have chosen to partner with HTHT again as a result of the consistent positive experiences they have provided our children. HTHT encourages student exploration and problem solving. This is the heart of our program. We are grateful to have a community organization that supports the curiosity of children! I highly recommend HTHT to schools that seek to support rigorous and joyful student-centered experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Touch High Tech

ScienceMadeFunWNC.net

828.984.3192

25 Years of Community

 

 

Volunteering in your community is a wonderful way to connect with those around you, gain confidence and learn new skills. By engaging with others, you can make connections and even branch out of your comfort zone. Volunteering allows you to meet others that you may or may not see on in your regular schedule. We all have our daily routines. But by taking the opportunity to volunteer, you may meet others that you otherwise would never see.

Volunteering may allow you to try something new and even challenge yourself! You may learn unique skills, meet new people and may even discover hidden talents.

Volunteering may help decrease stress, provide a sense of purpose and even boost your confidence! By helping others, you’ll build self-esteem and a sense of trust. It can boost your mood even on the toughest days. Volunteering and helping others, makes you happy! It’s a “Win-Win”!

By volunteering with different organizations, you are assisting others and connecting with neighbors and establishing a larger social network. These connections may help you in future endeavors and encourage more outreach.

Volunteering sets a great example for those around you. Involving your family, close friends and neighbors will encourage even more good work. You can inspire your students, your children and even someone you have never met.

Volunteering can help you both physically and mentally. Perhaps you spend the afternoon doing yard work for an elderly couple or you guide a student with their reading in the library, every good deed is beneficial. Volunteer activities can get you moving and thinking!

Need some inspiration? Want to find out what is happening in your town? Try asking the school counselor, members of a local church, a friendly postal worker or even a cashier at the local grocery store. There will always be opportunities in the community. It just takes a smile and a friendly “Hello” to start up a conversation. There are always opportunities around the corner, just ask!

Network make new friends and share your love of science!

Learn more about community events find opportunities for individuals and organizations.

Get involved in the community events that support local nonprofit organizations. This is a great way to network, make new friends and share your love of science!

Create a fun, engaging hands-on science activity that connects with the theme of the event. Kids will rush to your table to play, explore and learn. Participants will love a new, exciting vendor at the event. Get creative and inspire young scientists.

High Touch High Tech of Western North Carolina is proud to volunteer with these organizations and community events:

  • The Walk MS & Wellness Fair supports and raises funds for the National MS Society. This annual event hosts a Wellness Fair, food trucks, face painting and kids’ activities. High Touch High Tech of Western North Carolina has participated for 8 years! HTHT provides supplies and instructions for Mystery S This is orange Space Mud (orange is the color for the MS Society.)
  • The NC Arboretum hosts a Mountain Science Expo that features hands-on demonstrations and programs for the whole family. More than 20 science exhibitors participate in this event that highlights STEM education. High Touch High Tech of Western North Carolina is thrilled to participate as an exhibitor at this annual event. Each year, HTHT introduces exciting interactive science experiences. This is a fantastic venue to connect with families and other science enthusiasts.
  • The Holidays are filled with fun, family-friendly events. Biltmore Park Town Square, in Asheville, NC, kicks off the season with a Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration. This outdoor event includes music, crafts, balloons, magicians and, of course, science fun with High Touch High Tech! Bundled in our jackets and scarfs, HTHT scientists love this annual Holiday event with all the smiles and excitement. HTHT provides supplies for a hands-on experiment for kids to take home. (Perhaps this inspires some science toys under the Christmas tree!)

This year, High Touch High Tech did volunteer at a few new events, which we were very excited about.

  • The Hendersonville Library kicked off a new program called the ecoEXPLORE to the Hendersonville community and HTHT went and helped the Arboretum with their Nature Program.
  • Mix 96.5 for a “Teacher of the Month” program that we offered a free science program to the teacher of the month. Then we joined in with the radio station in helping with them raise awareness and gifts of children in Foster Homes, a program called “Christmas 4 kids.” We adopted 13 children and helped them have a fantastic Christmas.
  • Special Olympics in Hendersonville. We attended the event held at the East Hendersonville High School and had the children make slime. It was a very special day for all those involved

High Touch High Tech attends as many community events that we can and not just in the Western North Carolina area. Our satellite offices in Charlotte and Raleigh join in at events such as the “Hello Huntersville” and the “Triangle Sci-Tech Expo” along with many elementary schools and their Science Nights.

Each year HTHT supports local schools and local organizations. High Touch High Tech strives to give back to the WNC community by staying involved with our schools, community organizations and partnering with area businesses. Through a FUN hands-on experience, our community events bring science out of the classroom.

These events are great networking opportunities, strengthens community involvement and are tons of fun!

Click here to check out our Community Outreach page.

 

High Touch High Tech

ScienceMadeFun.net

800.444.4968

 

Playful Learning

Playful Learning: The Role it Plays in Education

 

Children of all cultures and backgrounds play. Play is omnipresent in the developing minds of children, as well as young animals. Play is an agent that promotes early brain development, strengthens language skills, the executive functions of memory and attention, mathematics and spatial skills, scientific thinking, and emotional development. There is an evident correlation between play and cognitive progression, which grants breakthroughs in conducting education.

Guided play maintains the free and fun aspects of play, while focusing on education goals, fostering an opportunity for imaginative exploration. For children, play and activity is about make-believe, discovery, amusement, and socialization. The difference between free and guided play is gentle adult guidance to lead towards the learning goal, while allowing the creativity to be nurtured.  This innovative approach to making learning an active experience has shown to be a successful pedagogical tool in a variety of subjects, particularly mathematics and science.

Parents, educators, and policy makers want to ensure that today’s youth will grow into tomorrow’s successful adults. The time for childhood development is short, and the expectations are increasingly high. Traditional learning is direct instruction, typically using flash cards, repetitive lessons, and over explanation with a lack of discovery.  Playful learning through guided play supports children taking a lead in their instruction, while being directed to the points and concepts that are vital to education standards and goals. Current and expanding research shows that guided play provides and delivers the same outcomes in children’s learning as traditional teaching, while being a more effective teaching tool.

Research finds that children who engage in guided play activities were more likely to learn target information. Additionally, they are more likely to retain abstract themes than the children who were given direct instruction, while children engaging in free play, without any adult support, overall are less likely to stumble upon the same realizations. A study with preschool aged children taught about shapes using guided play, free play, and conventional instruction. The children who engaged in guided play lesson were able to identify more atypical shapes than those who participated in direct lessons, and more shapes overall than those who participated in free play. The role of adults in guided play is to support the children’s choices, asking open-ended questions to gently shape behavior without controlling it.

Here at High Touch High Tech, we see the value of a hands-on, discovery style of learning. Each day we get to see students come to realizations, all the while using an active imagination. Teachers and the curriculum they abide by have yet to admit guided play and aren’t given the tools to do so. Our students lead in their own education, and it provides them an autonomy of their actions. Students are just learning how the world operates by using their imagination to dream of the possibilities and discovering new information each day.  STEM education is the key to making sense of our world, thus being the single greatest influence on the innovations which will change the world.

 

High Touch High Tech

800.444.4968

Info@ScienceMadeFun.net

Thank You!

 

 

We all know that teachers lead hectic lives. Grading papers at every opportunity, developing lesson plans, investing their hearts into their students’ success. Here at High Touch High Tech, we have the opportunity of coming into your classroom to teach your students about science and understand this is no small accomplishment.  We get to inspire, explore, and engage with your students while you get to sit back and watch. That is a small way that we can thank you for all that you do for our children, and next generation.

Every day you are patient, understanding, thoughtful and energetic, even on the toughest days. Thank you!

You buy school supplies with your own money, decorate classrooms with your own supplies and volunteer your time even when there’s no time to spare! Thank you!

You don’t always get to eat lunch. At times you have recess duty, or car rider duty when it’s unpleasant outside. All after a long day, when all you want to do is finally go home. Thank you!

You stay up late grading papers, preparing for tomorrows assignments when just want to go to sleep. Thank you!

Teaching is a commitment to help with the development of your students’ curiosity and interest in learning. High Touch High Tech is also committed in keeping student’s curiosity and interest in learning. Combining those two commitments together is success for a child!

“Without teacher appreciation there can’t be any student progress.” Quote by Theresa Grim.

Thank you for being that Teacher!

Difference Makers

 

Difference Makers

 

At this moment, somewhere around the world there is a High Touch High Tech instructor teaching a group of excited children! They are delivering “hands-on” science programs that encourage fun learning in an innovative way. Providing these types of services brings joy to students, instructors, and faculty. This joy and excitement are why High Tough High Tech so successful today. All educators play a very important role in a developing child’s social and academic life. They are providing knowledge, applicable skills, and guidance to their student’s day in and day out. There is a sense of fulfillment that is associated with making a difference for the better in your students’ lives. We at High Touch High Tech, and all educators, are difference makers.

From kindergarten to medical school, instructors hold a vital role in a student’s academic journey. A teacher is a person who aids in acquiring knowledge, competence, or virtue. They educate on basic academics in various topics and studies around the world, working with students individually or in larger groups. Teachers are often willing to “go the extra” mile to ensure a student’s success.

Teachers serve as important role models, teaching students to be social and productive members of society. They encourage positively and creativity, making it their goal to motivate and inspire students to be interested and invested in their education. Educators help develop valuable skills within a student and actively engage in their academic strengths and weaknesses.

High Touch High Tech is honored and privileged to be an education provider for the last 25 years! We have been able to share this practice and message all around the world. We have been able to assist many learning intuitions, families and students by providing them the opportunity to participate in what we value the most; making a difference in a student’s life by valuing, engaging, and nurturing their academic milestones. Our role in the lives of our students is our greatest contribution to the world.

 

High Touch High Tech

800.444.4968

info@ScienceMadeFun.net

 

 

 

Source: www.pearsonedu.com
Source: pixabay.com

An Interview with Our Founder and CEO: Dinosaur Dan Shaw

 

An Interview with Our Founder and CEO: Dinosaur Dan Shaw

 

We spoke with Dan Shaw to get the scoop on High Touch High Tech’s 25th anniversary.  Dan Shaw lead the industry in STEM education enrichment programming. Dan Shaw has been CEO at High Touch High Tech since the company’s foundation in 1992 and has now been developing franchise locations for 25 marvelous years.

Q: Describe what High Touch High Tech does.

A:  High Touch High Tech pulls the science out of books and puts it into the kids’ hands. High Touch High Tech also does exactly what our name implies; High Touch, grabbing the materials and putting it in their hands, and then High Tech preparing students for our high tech world. High Touch High Tech is also a science experience that comes to you, so teachers, parents, after-school directors, special events. They know that when they hear High Touch High Tech we’re coming to their location to provide a science experience for students.

Q: What lead you to create High Touch High Tech?

A: High Touch High Tech was created because my daughter came home from school one day and asked me if I had any good ideas for a schoolwide carnival that they were having, and what their classroom should do for that carnival. I suggested that we create a hands-on science booth! Where the kids could walk up and do a make and take experiment. Now this was in 1992, and it was pretty groundbreaking! We went there, the teachers absolutely loved it, [and] the kids adored the programs that we provided for them. They were able to understand it, they communicated with me well. I created a naming convention, I called myself Dinosaur Dan, figuring that would be a much more approachable term for them. We did some pretty interesting, sophisticated experiments at that booth. The teachers came up to me and told me that they need me to come back to that school, and they will figure out how to pay me, but what they saw me do they had not seen before. And that was [what I had done] pulling the science out of the textbook and putting it into the children’s hands. That was how HIGH TOUCH HIGH TECH  was born.

Q: Do you feel that High Touch High Tech’s slogan, “Science Experiences that Come to You,” well represents your company?

A: Absolutely. It really speaks to exactly what we do. We bring a hands-on, totally participatory science experience to wherever the location can be. Often times a teacher will ask us “we want to host your program, but our classroom is not big enough because another teacher wants to join us,” or “we need to do it in another room.” So, we tell them that any multipurpose room, a pavilion outside the school, the cafeteria because we truly believe that real learning can take place wherever learners gather and can engage in exciting ways to learn. And that is exactly what we do at High Touch High Tech. Because of how important that phrase is, not only in our marketing, but we trademarked it [the phrase “Science Experiences That Come to You”] so that it can officially represent our brand, at all of our locations all over the world.

Q: The masses know you as Dinosaur Dan, where did Dinosaur Dan come from?

A: Well Dinosaur Dan is a very approachable, rather than being “oh Mr. Shaw I’ve got a question,” it’s “hey, Dinosaur Dan I don’t understand this, help me out.” It reduces any barrier that a child may have to asking a question, so that it’s easy to approach Dinosaur Dan. We’ve adopted this naming protocol for all of our scientists all over the world. You take the first letter of your first name, and you match it to a science concept. We have a Chemistry Carol, we have an Alkaline Alyssa, we have a Terri-dactyl, we have a Tommy Tsunami. So, it’s very, very important that you have a name that it totally approachable for kids.

Q: Why is the work that High Touch High Tech doing so important?

A: The work that High Touch High Tech does is so important because it stimulates kids’ imaginations and curiosity in science. Even more than that, I feel it addresses an achievement gap that is so prevalent in our schools, and it puts the opportunity for every child to get the science into their hands and to explore and discover at their own pace and learn the science on an equal scale that every student does.

Q: High Touch High Tech is all about hands-on education. How do you learn yourself?

A: Totally the same way. I am a total visual learner. And so, in the early years of developing programming, our initial programs, they were tactile. Everything had to be in your hands, visual images were forefront. That how I learn, and that’s how we’ve prepared a generation of children to start learning.

Q: Why do you believe that STEM education is important?

A: Stem education is among the most important because it is, as we know [the abbreviation of STEM], Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. And those are the key fundamentals that kids really need to learn at a young age and continue to build [upon] a foundation in those subjects. STEM education itself builds self-esteem; it builds confidence. Once kids can understand that confidence and what they themselves are able to do, it puts them on a course for success.

Q: How has the market for STEM enrichment programming changed in the 25 years that High Touch High Tech has been in operation?

A: STEM is now a very, very popular term. But we like to say that High Touch High Tech was STEM before STEM was a thing. The market has changed as trends in education have changed from every 5 or 6 years or so. It’s important that we see change. From Science Across the Curriculum in the 90’s, to No Child Left Behind in the early 2000’s. It’s so important to stay on top of these trends, but with all these trends, and the terminology may change, the pure and applied, and fundamental science never changes. And that is how we’ve been able to stay current, stay flexible. Whatever the curriculum directions go we provide that reinforcing, fun science for students.

Q: What does 25 years of High Touch High Tech mean to you?

A: 25 year of High Touch High Tech is 25 years of excitement. 25 years of slime. 25 years of volcano eruptions. 25 years of joy on kids’ faces, of that eureka moment where they actually discover something, not only about their experiment but what they themselves are actually able to achieve. 25 years of panning for gems. 25 years of making earthquakes. 25 years of learning about space. 25 years of going to schools and introducing those new administrators to what High Touch High Tech does. 25 years of doing local fairs and festivals and engaging in the community. 25 years of fabulous.

Q: Why did you become an entrepreneur?

A: I’m sort of an unlikely entrepreneur. I was a scientist; I went to a carnival at my daughter’s school. That is where I first encountered working with children and showing them really cool, fun science experiences. I started talking to teachers there, that’s when that teacher came up to me and told me that “this was incredible, we need have you to come back to our school, we’ll figure out how to get you paid, but we need you to come back. You were able to pull the science out of out of the book and put it into the student’s hands.” That’s kind of the beginning.

Q: Has being the founder of High Touch High Tech developed you as an individual?

A: In so many ways. My level of confidence soared. My level of satisfaction [in life] soared as well. What we’re doing at High Touch High Tech is incredible. We’re really changing lives. There’s no complaint department at High Touch High Tech. Because teachers appreciate it, student love it, appreciate it, and can’t get enough of it. So, it’s very much a win-win relationship between teachers and High Touch High Tech, and between students and High Touch High Tech.

Q: Using one word, how would you describe yourself?

A: Passionate… about science.

Q: What was your background prior to founding High Touch High Tech?

A: I had a research position at the University of Miami. So, I was already doing science with a team. After I went to my daughter’s school carnival, I figured out that was an unlikely career path that was kind of chosen for me. If you go way back into a few chapters of my life, you’d find out that I was a huge science enthusiast. For my 4-year-old birthday party, my mother asked me what kind of cake I wanted. I told her a volcano cake! Science has been a huge part of my life! That meaningful day at that [school] carnival, working with those teachers, really opened my eyes to actual business opportunities beyond science with kids. So, after I did that and it was such a huge success, and [the teachers] they wanted me to return to the school, I want to a library and did my research. Of course, this was before the internet [year 1992], and you couldn’t do any of this research at home. The closest library I went to was actually a law library. I used one of those micro-phish that you could look a lot of stuff up on, while using that and gaining information about national science standards and curriculum’s. I looked up at the books on the shelf, and I saw books on franchise law. So, I took a little break from learning about the curriculum and I pulled out one of those books, and I realized that as I was developing the initial business, I was going to poise the business to become a franchisible.  If it [a business] can work in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, it could work anywhere else in the world.  After two years of proof of concept, we started franchising.

Q: Why did you choose to establish High Touch High Tech as a franchise?

A: The best way to make sure that every child everywhere could experience and benefit from our programming was going to be through individual owned and operated locations. So, franchising was the perfect model for that.

Q: What is the benefit of having franchise locations?

A: That’s the magic here. All the franchisees bring a completely different set of tools, and experiences, and talents to the table. And we discover those during our 5 days of training here at our national office, and we are able to build on that throughout that week of training. Franchisees find out themselves what their strengths are, and what their weaknesses are that they may not have even realized. And we push that all together into talent, and we share with the new franchisees how to take their very specific talents and incorporate it into our business model, which is so flexible. That’s why they become very, very successful themselves.

Q: You even have some international franchise locations, really allowing High Touch High Tech to impact students you wouldn’t have reached otherwise. Would you say you’re proud of that?

A: Oh absolutely, very proud of that. Here in the US, we are a melting pot of so many different cultures. Different cultures have different values, but even when you go and open locations in other countries those cultures there still value will value science, education, and educating their children. It makes for a very easy segway to take our programs overseas.

Q: What are a few of your key accomplishments over the course of High Touch High Tech’s 25 years?

A: My single biggest accomplishment was when we sold our very first franchise, and that was in New Jersey, in Wyckoff Bergen County New Jersey. It meant to me that somebody, that I didn’t know from many states away from where I was, was able to learn about our concept and draw so much interest in it that they contacted me and they were interested in doing it[opening a franchise]. Another big, big accomplishment for me was that faithful day when we brought our High Touch High Tech onto Royal Caribbean Cruise ships. It was in 1998 when I approached Royal Caribbean and they were seeking out, [had] a desire educational, fun experiences for children that were in the youth programming on the ship. Our science programming was perfect for that because it’s super fun for kids, and it’s valued by parents. So, if the parents are sunbathing on the deck, if they’re off on an island, if they’re in the casino, if they’re at a show, they know that their children are not only having fun, but they’re being educated as well.

Q: Describe your partnership and relationship with Royal Caribbean Cruises.

A: Our partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises is now in its 22nd year. It was one of the most significant achievements of my career. It was our opportunity to take our highly successfully programs that were deep in the classroom of elementary students nationwide and we were able to move forward with Royal Caribbean Cruises and introduce our brand of programming to the general consumer population. That has proven to be a very, very successful partnership with Royal Caribbean. Since our beginning with them in 1998 through today, the last 8 ships that they’ve come out with they have set up a science lab. Because on a cruise ship, every square inch is designed to be revenue generating. For a cruise line to dedicate space for our brand of hands on science, which is capturing the imagination and curiosity, fueling that imagination with children that are on vacation. And we developed family programs, so that families as a whole could participate in science programming has been extremely successful. I see our partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises continuing to grow.

Q: Where do see High Touch High Tech in 5- or 10-years’ time?

A: I believe that we’re going to continue to grow. We’re on a beautiful growth trajectory, both domestically and internationally. I see our growth because I’m interested in [making sure] that every child, everywhere can experience our programming. Beyond the child [out] there are entrepreneurs that are looking to change their career or have a second shot at perhaps their dream of owning their own business. Our concept works perfectly for that individual, no matter what skill set they bring. We are able form and mold our franchise concept to meet their strengths and improve upon their weaknesses so that they can have the dream of owning their own business. [Even] Beyond that it’s not only owning your own business, but a business that is changing lives and that’s what we do at High Touch High Tech. So it see that as our definite growth trajectory as we always are very excited as new technologies emerge, and new trends in education emerge, we like to stay on the forefront of that so we can produce the materials to assist the teachers in those classrooms to make science meaningful and memorable to young students.

Q: Would you say you’re excited for the future of High Touch High Tech?

A: Oh absolutely, very excited.

Q: What does success look like to you?

A: Success to me is the satisfaction of seeing students inspired in science and striving to conquer new concepts. Building excitement in children. And also, success for me is seeing our franchisees develop their territories and grow their territories and have the satisfaction of making money from our business [model] and growing and being satisfied with that level of income and ambition. Some of our franchisees have raised their families through High Touch High Tech, [having] weddings for their children. So, it’s been a wonderful experience seeing our franchisees being successful, from a financial point of view, and of course being successful from our business model, which is putting the students’ experiments into their hands.

Q: What has been your secret to success?

A: The secret of my success has been drawing inspiration from our franchisees, because watching them in the field, doing what we taught them from our national office, and seeing their impact on the community, seeing their impact with students. Watching their territory base grow, reading all the testimonials from teachers from their location, is very deeply satisfying for me. And just shows the entire concept being the correct model so we can expand quickly and that our programming can touch the lives of just so many children everywhere. We’re able to be a cheerleader to our franchisees and supporting them, drawing inspiration from the great work that they do is a key success factor.

Q: Who is an influential person that you admire?

A: That person is Neil deGrasse Tyson for sure. He’s amazing, and he inspires everybody to reach for the stars, learn things you never knew you never knew. I just love the guy and think he’s amazing.

Q: What is the best advice you could give a new business owner?

A: Believe in yourself. Maintain high ethics, maintain high quality of whatever product or service that you’re providing. But believe in yourself, have confidence to deliver whatever it is or what you’re trying to do.

 

25 Years of High Touch High Tech

 

For 25 years, High Touch High Tech has been inspiring young minds with hands on, captivating science experiences. We are thrilled to have been a pioneer in STEM enrichment education, a leader in our field, and now we have the capacity to interact with over 16 million students annually.

We would not have been able to dream of getting here without the support of our franchise locations, teachers who enlist our help, parents who crave a better education for their children, and students who devour science. We have been building the next generation of biologists, engineers, doctors, astronauts, physicists and so many more by triggering imaginations for 25 incredible years.

High Touch High Tech remembers each year since 1994 graciously, with immense pride. Motivated by our amplified determination and purpose for the next 25 years. Our mission of inspiring, exploring, and engaging with young minds is a persistent reminder of why we are proud of what we do. Our hands-on approach to learning allows us to impact young minds and allows for creativity and imagination to be a present part of education.

Being able to witness the impact we have on students, teachers, and the progress of our future cannot be underestimated. All individuals representing High Touch High Tech have the honor of watching a child make a discovery, comprehend complex topics, and develop sense of confidence in science. To say we’re passionate about what we do doesn’t do it justice, and we will continue our mission each day.

Through 25 years we have proven to ourselves that what we do is worth doing, and we are determined to continue to spread knowledge and inspiration. Our franchisees share our quest, implementing education across the country, and across the world. We would never be able to make our business work and be able to empower our youth without those who share our passion. We are so thankful for every single High Touch High Tech location, each believing that we are making an impact on our world through science education.

Please join us in celebrating this legendary achievement.

Happy 25th anniversary, High Touch High Tech.