IRED

Placed based education focuses on building connections between information learned in the classroom and situations that occur in the students' local communities. Rural schools can utilize their unique environments as learning resources, which connects students to their communities, enhances classroom engagement, and prepares students to meet the demands of a 21st century workforce.

By approaching rural education from a holistic standpoint, we are able to identify best practices to support students throughout multiple areas of development for lifelong success!

Due West Robotics in Due West, SC has been opening doors to science, tech, engineering, and math for rural youth since 2012. What started as a single family project by founder Charles Angel has grown into a regional model for rural robotics education.
We were able to tour the beginnings of their brand-new 16,500 sq. ft. Palmetto Innovation & Technology Center and dream big about future collaborations. The future of rural innovation looked bright in Due West!

Starting the new year off by looking back on 2025. Proud of all we've accomplished and ready for what 2026 has to offer!

Congrats to Julia Moro, one of our graduate assistants, for graduating this semester with her master's in Counseling and Rehabilitation!

Last week Matt Irvin, our IRED Director, presented at the annual meeting of the SC Energy Justice Coalition. His presentation covered our partnership with the SC Building Environmental Action for Community Opportunities and Networks, where we helped to identify and build the capacity to respond to environmental hazards in rural communities!

This week is national computer science education week! Many of our robots can be used as tools to introduce block coding in a fun and engaging way.

Last week we celebrated the end of the semester with our holiday party! We are so proud of the work everyone has done this fall and can't wait for another great semester when we come back

Had so much fun at Healthy Blue Harvest Fest! Thank you to Healthy Blue South Carolina for having us!

We are so excited for healthy blue harvest fest this Saturday!

Congrats to Dr. Devan Jones, one of our post doctoral researchers, for earning the National Rural Education Association’s Chance Memorial Dissertation Award for her work exploring the experience of rural STEM educators! This award recognizes a dissertation that significantly contributes to rural education research and addresses current issues in the field.

Thanks for having us at STEM Extravaganza South Carolina Afterschool Alliance!