Abstract
Conference Title: 2017 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) Conference Start Date: 2017, Oct. 18 Conference End Date: 2017, Oct. 21 Conference Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA An apprenticeship community is an approach to linking two very hard problems: dissemination of technology-mediated learning methods and improvements to the preparation of undergraduates for a STEM workforce. A standard computer science curriculum based on knowledge and skill acquisition augmented with a project-based student community of design/builders is a significant addition to current methods for educating students and preparing them for a STEM-based workforce. An ecosystem can be developed that leverages the work of undergraduates as a mechanism to face-lift the technology-base of the classroom. Custom-building education platforms is a necessary and significant complementary approach to generic platforms as a method for propagating technology-mediated pedagogy. This project creates a how-to model for converting institutional need into opportunity for a community of learners.