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Success Story: Inspiring Students through the Power of WiFi

Eric Cao and his team successfully delivered a series of hands-on Arduino workshops designed to introduce local grade school students to coding, circuit-building, and engineering concepts.

Using materials funded by the Youth Creativity Fund, Eric’s team developed a working circuit and created code to initiate a web server—bringing real-world technology learning into the classroom in a fun and engaging way.
To date, Eric and his team have hosted two workshops at Laurelwood Public School, with a third workshop planned at the KW Bilingual School. Each session was built around interactive, hands-on learning, allowing students to explore engineering and computer science in a supportive environment.
Throughout the project, Eric spent approximately 20 hours developing the workshop materials, refining the lessons, and practicing the delivery to ensure the sessions were engaging and educational.

Learning and Growth
Eric shared that one of the most valuable lessons from the project was the importance of preparation. The team learned to bring extra materials, prepare additional topics in case the lesson ended early, and practice presentations to keep students engaged.
This proactive planning approach helped Eric develop stronger leadership skills and better anticipate challenges before they arose.

Overcoming Challenges
The initiative didn’t come without its challenges. For example, the team discovered that the WRDSB WiFi blocked access to their web server due to firewall restrictions. To overcome this, they brought a WiFi router from home.
Additionally, some USB cables were incompatible with students’ Chromebooks, so the team came prepared with extra cables to ensure the sessions ran smoothly.

Impact and Pride
Eric says the most rewarding moment was seeing students approach the team afterward, asking where they could learn more about computer engineering and coding.
Knowing they sparked curiosity and inspired students to explore technology confirmed that the workshops were making a lasting impact.
Through this project, Eric reported increased confidence, stronger leadership abilities, and a greater sense of belonging within his community. He also developed important skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Inspiring Students through the Power of WiFi demonstrates how youth-led learning initiatives can spark curiosity, build confidence, and create meaningful opportunities for younger students to explore STEM pathways.