curriculum design
Blueprint for Learning
Brenda builds curriculum the same way an engineer builds a system. There is always a blueprint with purpose, precision, and the end user in mind. The result is learning that sticks, scales, and shows up in the real world long after the lesson ends.
curriculum examples
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Rhode Island public schools have the opportunity to expand coursework available to students through the All Course Network (ACN).
Enriching experiences with supplemental coursework help students get a head start on postsecondary success, master the skills required of a lifelong learner, and be prepared for jobs in sectors critical to Rhode Island’s future prosperity.
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Design | Make | Manufacture (DMM) is a semester-long, credit-bearing career readiness course Brenda designed and taught for 9th and 11th graders at the MET High School E-Center. Built around two parallel tracks, Project Invent on Tuesdays and Design Lab on Thursdays, students spent half their time solving real community problems through invention and the other half mastering advanced manufacturing tools including laser cutters, 3D printers, vinyl cutters, embroidery machines, and micro-controllers. Every lesson was structured around design thinking, hands-on making, and a final passion project culminating in a live pitch and a badging ceremony celebrating every skill earned along the way.
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The PPL Summer STEAM Adventure is a 6-week paid internship Brenda designed for high school students at the Providence Public Library. Aligned to RIDE and Next Generation Science Standards, the program immerses students in hands-on makerspace training, community engagement, and real-world project work, from mastering laser cutters and 3D printers to leading open studio sessions and presenting at a closing showcase.
Rhode Island Department of Education- All Course Network
Robotics with micro:bit
This free, 12-week after-school program for middle schoolers—offered through the Rhode Island Department of Education—turns curious students into builders and programmers. In partnership with Thames & Kosmos, a local toy company based in Providence, RI, the program features the generously donated Robotics Workshop with micro:bit. Students assemble motorized robots, wire sensors, and write code to bring their machines to life. The course moves from hands-on building into block-based coding in MakeCode, and eventually into Python and JavaScript, meeting students exactly where they are.
Rhode Island Department of Education- All Course Network
E-Commerce Essentials
E-Commerce Essentials introduces students to the real mechanics of building and running an online business. The course is grounded in platforms and tools students can actually use: Etsy for storefront building, print-on-demand services for product creation without inventory, social media for marketing, and SEO techniques for getting their products in front of customers. Rather than teaching e-commerce as an abstract concept, students learn by doing, working through the same decisions a real small business owner would face. By the end of the course, students have the foundational knowledge and practical skills to turn a creative idea into a functioning online business.
D|M|M
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, finding that passion within each students makes all the difference.
Providence Public Library
PPL STEAM Internship
A 6-week paid STEAM internship ($15/hr) for high school students hosted at the PPL Makerspace. Students train on professional fabrication equipment, lead community open studio sessions, co-design community-facing projects, and take field trips to innovation hubs in Boston and Providence. The program is designed as an on-ramp to STEAM careers with real leadership responsibilities.
