For educator, STEM advocate, entrepreneur and TechPlayzone Founder/CEO Deshjuana Bagley, innovation started with a question.

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“How can I help my sons see that science, technology, engineering and math relate to their lives–and are really cool?”

Desh, a computer scientist, began researching. Ultimately, her answer culminated in the 2005 opening of her Tampa Bay-based educational program.

But maybe “educational program” doesn’t quite do it justice.

TechPlayzone offers young students workshops in robotics, coding, engineering and design skills. Staffers either bring equipment to onsite locations to conduct classes, according to TechPlayzone’s website, or teach in virtual space.

This past December, TechPlayzone hosted a three-day “Winter Tech Camp” in virtual reality. Students, from second to sixth grade, built their own virtual worlds.

And as an educator, Desh is making technology less intimidating for everyone.

Among her many roles is that of Director at State College of Florida Coding Academy. She is also active in XR Women, and hosts professional-development workshops, through TechPlayzone, for educators, nonprofit organizations and Fortune 500 companies.

Starting point: creativity

In her TEDx talk, Desh explains her teaching approach to emerging technology.

Today’s schools, she explains, challenge students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills. But traditionally, teachers just cover the basics, when introducing new technology. Students in a more traditional educational setting learn “how it works”–and that’s it.

But Desh starts with a creative mindset.

Students, she says, find the basics “easy”. From there, she takes her young clients through the process of using that technology to create something fun. The children think they’re “playing’–even as they learn critical skills for their future.

Meanwhile, Desh’s own creative projects include her recent Black History Month museum exhibit in virtual reality, through Virbela! Spotlighting African-American artists, computer scientists and authors, she uses VR to share aspects of history which many of us never knew.

Desh talked about her experiences with TechPlayzone, shared some favorite resources for arts professionals in the STEM area, and offered an exciting look at what’s next!

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• How Desh first became engaged in computer science and robotics;

• The story of TechPlayzone;

• Desh’s memories of the early days of her unique program;

• What she’s doing to engage students in creating with technology, versus the traditional approach in which schools teach tech;

• How teachers can get around the “intimidation factor” and make technology work in their curricula;

• What can work best for educators in arts disciplines;

• Some of the digital resources that can be most helpful in the arts;

• A closer look at the classes offered at State College of Florida’ Coding Academy (these are available online!);

• Desh’s experiences creating her Black History Month exhibit in Virbela (the exhibit is still available, as of April–be sure to check it out!);

• A project which she hosted in VR that turned out to be an amazing experience;

• Another technology program which allowed her students to create their own virtual worlds;

• Desh’s vision for the future of TechPlayzone, and an exciting upcoming project;

• Her favorite resources for artists who’d like to start creating in XR;

• Desh’s advice to arts students, in preparing for the new jobs which will result from current advances in robotics.