Music. Circuits. Creativity.
Get $200. Learn hands-on. Build skills. Lead the way.
We’re paying up to 60 students a $200 stipend each to take part in a free circuit bending course—2.5 hours a day for 5 days in June. This free weeklong summer program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is open to teens and young adults (ages 14-20) who want to experiment with circuits, sound, and creativity.
Graduates of the course can join NYCE, a community of young educators who lead pop-up events, gain industry connections, access internship opportunities, and qualify for even bigger stipends.
Sound like your kind of jam? Apply now, or help us spread the word by sharing Glitch’n with your community!
Why Glitch’n?
“glitch (noun): a sudden, usually temporary malfunction or irregularity of equipment”
Glitch’n is the name of a course we developed that offers a non-traditional route into the world of computing and electronics through a creative arts-focused approach called “circuit bending.” Many students who are bored by traditional pathways find that circuit bending, a hands-on approach that embraces experimentation and making mistakes, sparks their interest in a powerful way.
The Glitch’n course is offered at no cost. Our course offers teens and young adults opportunities to explore areas of study that could lead to careers in engineering, computing, electronics, or semiconductor work. Each of these areas has various levels of entry which require different levels of education. Some only require a high school diploma, others a post-high school certification, a two-year degree, or a four-year degree.
Individuals who complete the Glitch’n course can be selected to join a cohort of community educators called NYCE.
Additionally, every profession needs educators, facilitators, and trainers. Glitch’n will give teens and young adults experience teaching what they have learned to community members when they co-facilitate organized educational Hang out, Mess Around, Geek Out (HOMAGO) pop-up events.
The Glitch’n Summer Courses will be held at the ASU MIX Center in downtown Mesa—a cutting-edge space designed for technology, creativity, and hands-on learning. For detailed routes and schedules, please visit the Valley Metro website. Three courses will be offered during summer 2025:
June 16-20, 2025 | 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
June 23-27, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
June 23-27, 2025 | 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Glitch’n at the ASU MIX Center
NYCE: Participant and Parent Information
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NYCE are neurodivergent teens and young adults ages 14 to 20 that complete the Glitch’n course and want to keep going!
After participating in a summer camp experience to learn the basics of circuit bending, participants selected for NYCE will receive training on how to facilitate open-ended learning experiences for visitors at two pop-up events during the summer. Additionally, NYCE participants will reflect on their learning and collect evidence of pop-up visitor learning.
As community educators, NYCE will each earn an internship stipend for completing the training and all aspects of the pop-up facilitation.
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Glitch’n Course: Three courses will be offered during the summer:
June 16 - 20 - 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
June 23 - 27 - 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
June 23 - 27 - 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: ASU MIX Center, Mesa, AZ (accessible by light rail & bus)
NYCE: Later in June and July
NYCE Job Training to prepare for Pop-up Facilitation.
HOMAGO Educational Pop-up Number 1 (Location TBD).
HOMAGO Educational Pop-up Number 2 (Location TBD).
NYCE submit video reflections and video data of pop-up learning. Upon completion, the participant receives an internship stipend.
What are skills that NYCE participants could develop?
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Computational Thinking
Applying pattern recognition and logical thinking to creatively manipulate circuits and understand their behavior.
Basic Circuit Theory
Gaining an intuitive grasp of electrical signals, resistances, capacitance, and voltage behaviors.
Troubleshooting Electronics
Diagnosing, fixing, and modifying circuits.
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Planning and preparing for educational pop-up events.
Asking guiding questions of pop-up event visitors (learners).
Encouraginglearners to explore with the materials. Keeping materials organized and accounted for.
Explaining technical skills to learners that want to go deeper.
Connecting technical terms to what the learners are experiencing (Teaching vocabulary, concepts, and skills).
Collecting video data that shows what learners have learned.
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Work Ethic
Completing assignments on time, having good attendance and being on time, communicating with supervisors, putting forth best effort on assigned tasks, following directions, asking for clarification when needed.
Collaboration Skills
Communicating with team members, following through on assigned group tasks, being open to others’ ideas, contributing own ideas to the group, resolving disagreements with compromise and consensus building.
Problem-solving Skills
Problem solve technical issues, problem solve social issues, develop problem solving strategies to apply to different situations, determine when to bring in a coach or supervisor to help with problem solving.