Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest! The spring semester registration is now closed, and registrations will open for the fall semester in August. In the meantime, fill out the form on our home page to be notified when registrations open!

We offer four different subjects (with many courses in each subject): computer science, mathematics, engineering, and science. Please refer to the Programs tab for details on all courses.

All lessons are free of charge. We do not want tuition to be a deterrent for any student who is interested in participating in our program.

All sessions will be conducted remotely via Zoom, in groups of about 5-10 students. We will also be offering some in-person sessions, but this option will be limited. See our Programs tab to see what content is covered in each lesson. Visit our logistics tab for more information.

Students are expected to be able to commit to two 45-60 minute sessions every week for each class they enroll in. So, if the student takes the maximum of two courses, the weekly time commitment will be at least 4 hours per week.

gbSTEM's Spring 2025 semester will run from March 16th, 2025 to June 14th, 2025. The final week will consist of final projects and events. We will also hold student and parent orientations the week before classes begin.

We have various courses designed for students ranging from 1st-8th grade. You should choose courses that correspond with your student's age. Classes will be generally grouped by age.

You may register for up to two different courses. However, you need to be sure that you are able to manage the time commitment of at least 2 hours per week per course.

No prior coding experience is needed for our 4 foundational courses— we welcome coders of all skill levels! In fact, most of our students have not coded before participating in the gbSTEM program. Choose the course that corresponds with your student's age and ability level!

Yes, Python II requires some prior knowledge. Students should be comfortable with most topics covered in our Python I course before enrolling in Python II. Visit the CS tab under Programs for more information about Python II.

Yes! If you are already familiar with coding basics, you may be able to enroll in a more difficult course such as Python II or Java.

We offer introductory courses in Scratch, Python, Java, and Web Development (with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript).

We suggest picking the courses that interest you! Typically, Scratch is the easiest language to learn, followed by Python and Web Development (HTML and CSS), followed by Java. We also offer multiple course levels for some languages. Visit our CS courses page to learn more about our courses!

No, those courses are introductory and stand-alone. However, if you have experience in Scratch and/or already have a grasp on some programming concepts, you may be able to proceed faster when taking the Python I/Java courses.

Our lessons are typically an hour long each and will consist of a 'lesson' portion and a 'mini-project' portion. During the 'lesson' portion, instructors will introduce students to a new programming concept. During the 'mini-project' portion, students will code a small project that applies the topics and skills learned in the lesson.

Yes, but we recommend enrolling in the level that corresponds to the student's age and ability level.

Yes. All of our courses will include material not typically covered in the recommended grade levels. Our Mathematics V course focuses almost entirely on competition math and problem-solving strategies.

We will begin with a brief lecture; this will last about 15-30 minutes. Afterwards, students will work on problems, either individually or in groups. They can receive help and support from the instructor at any point during the lesson.

Yes! We welcome students of all math backgrounds! Our courses teach material not typically covered in school and after-school programs. More mathematically advanced middle school students are welcome to take Math V.

No, these courses are meant to introduce students to the world of engineering! Please choose the course that corresponds to your student's age.

We expect most students in Engineering III to have already taken Engineering II.

We will begin with a brief lecture; this will last about 15-30 minutes. Afterwards, students will work on hands-on projects. They can receive help and support from the instructor at any point during the lesson.

No! Environmental Science introduces students to elements of chemistry and biology in its curriculum, and no prior skills are required.

Classes usually begin with a brief, lecture-style introduction to new topics, after which students will work on projects, activities, or hands-on labs. Instructors are available to support and answer questions at any point during the lesson.

The Environmental Science curriculum includes elements of physics, chemistry, and biology that will expose many students to these fields earlier than their school might. Additionally, Environmental Science is often not covered in school curricula at all, and is vital to understanding of Earth's climate.

Thank you for your interest! The spring semester application window is over now, and applications will open for the fall semester in August. In the meantime, fill out the form on our homepage to be notified when applications open!