tudents working on Just Bead It Challenge

Launch your FUSE STEAM Studio

Getting started is easy! We are here to help.

Many partners choose FUSE for a new STEAM Studio or STEM Lab. Others rely on FUSE to provide structure to a school makerspace, or to complement other STEM curricula.

FUSE is designed for students in grades 4-12, with most partners implementing in grades 5-8. Hundreds of schools across the country have launched FUSE: public and private, urban and rural, elementary through high school.

Build your team.

A successful FUSE team includes admin, teachers, and IT support. We offer training to your whole cohort and provide ongoing support throughout your implementation.

Design your implementation.

FUSE is flexible by design, and works as a standalone class, an after-school club, or as part of an existing science or technology class. We help you optimize your plan.

Choose your package.

Introduce students to choice-based STEAM with our Discover package, or provide a comprehensive STEAM studio with our Innovate package—the path is up to you!

Build your FUSE Team

 

You don’t need to be a STEM expert to run a FUSE Studio. While we have partnered with science and STEM teachers, we also work with educators from a variety of backgrounds, including art teachers, librarians, and grade level instructors.

Our training addresses all aspects of this new approach to instruction. Once you are trained as a FUSE facilitator, we offer continuing support via video calls, email, a Slack channel and knowledge base.

Design your Implementation

diagram of FUSE classroom with desks, storage, and technology

Flexible implementation is core to our design.

Whether your students engage in FUSE during a standalone class, an after-school club, or as part of an existing science class, we’ll help you design a plan that works for your students and your facilitators. This flexibility extends to the physical room, too. While we suggest a set up that encourages collaboration and freedom of movement, FUSE has been implemented in converted computer labs, science labs, libraries, and traditional classrooms.

You can find more about our implementation models and tech/space requirements in our launch guide!

Choose your Package

Discover

With 10 digital and DIY Challenges, Discover is a perfect introduction to choice-based STEAM. FUSE provides the Challenges and you provide simple materials like paper, colored pencils, and tape!

Innovate

Innovate offers the comprehensive FUSE experience. Current schools use FUSE as the base of a Makerspace curriculum, to enhance a Science, Math or Technology curriculum, and in Library, Art, or STEAM classes. Current schools run multi-year, district-wide FUSE programs in schools serving grades 3-8.

Discover Package Includes

  • 10 Challenges
  • FUSE Platform access
  • Unlimited student accounts per building
  • 4 facilitator accounts
  • In-person or virtual training
  • Facilitator Support during School Hours
  • Online Facilitator Community
  • FUSE Knowledge Base

First Year

$4,000

Annual Renewal

$4,000

  • Beats Builder
  • Dream Home
  • Game Designer
  • Sculpty Pet
  • Video Magic Tricks

Five DIY Hands-on Challenges

  • Look No Hands
  • Flexagami
  • Mystery Messages
  • Slow Your Roll
  • Spaghetti Structures

Innovate Package Includes

  • 35 Challenges (and counting!)
  • FUSE Platform access
  • Unlimited student accounts per building
  • 8 facilitator accounts
  • In-person or virtual training
  • Facilitator Support during School Hours
  • Online Facilitator Community
  • FUSE Knowledge Base
  • Studio & User Reporting Tools
  • Custom Challenge Kits
  • Studio Supplies
  • Vinyl Cutter
  • 3D Printers
  • New Challenges annually
  • Annual Resupply Credit

First Year

$20,000

Annual Renewal

$6,300

  • Beats Builder
  • Dream Home
  • Game Designer
  • Sculpty Pet
  • Video Magic Tricks

Six DIY Hands-on Challenges

  • Look No Hands
  • Flexagami
  • Mystery Messages
  • Slow Your Roll
  • Spaghetti Structures
  • Alphabet Artist

Advanced Digital Challenges

  • Dream Home Gut Rehab
  • MiniMe Animation
  • VR Escape Room

3D Printing Challenges

  • Balancing Act
  • Cookie Customizer
  • Eye Candy
  • Jewelry Designer
  • Keychain Customizer
  • Print My Ride

Hands-on Science, Design, & Electronics Challenges

  • Coaster Boss
  • Crash Test Eggy
  • Electrify It
  • Gel Chemistry
  • Get in the Game
  • Laser Defender
  • LED Color Lights
  • Music Amplifier
  • Wind Commander

Challenges Integrated with Arduino, Makey Makey, & Robotics

  • Design to Fly
  • Friend Finder
  • Party Lights
  • Robot Rodeo
  • Smart Castle
  • Sticker Studio
FUSE is a not-for-profit program within the context of a University-based research project. FUSE receives funding from federal and private foundation grants; licensing fees help support ongoing program development and operations. Discounts are available for qualifying schools.

Testimonials

I’ve seen students who get so easily frustrated be able to handle that failure and bounce back and be able to try again, and again and maybe a dozen times until finally they pull it off. When you exist in a world where failure is an okay thing, that makes success the greatest thing.

Principal, High School

What I like about FUSE is you can work alone independently or you can work with your friends. You work together and solve problems.

Student, 6th grade

FUSE creates an environment where every single person has value.

Teacher, High School

FUSE is such a great fit for the school, and especially the students, because being teenagers at a middle school, it’s developmentally appropriate for them to be able to explore the many different aspects of the FUSE program. You have choice, you have hands on, you have exploration, you have figuring things out on their own, problem solving, real world skills that they’re going to need in college and careers.

Principal, Middle School

FUSE is really fun! It’s practically my favorite subject, because I love using computers, and you can do something with your friends or you can be independent.

Student, 6th grade

I think the suitability for us is that it’s flexible—the way that it can be disseminated related to time periods and content and structures. You can run FUSE in a computer lab, you can facilitate FUSE on laptops, kids can explore at home. The open-endedness of it, itself, and the open-ended structure of it allows it to be flexible for implementation at the school level and at the district level.

District Director of Math & Science

I learned that I love technology, and being creative. I never knew that before – that I would love to mess around with the computer or make stuff or be creative, but now I know that.

Student, 6th grade

FUSE provides those real world-learning opportunities. It definitely integrates the science and engineering practices that standards demand our students are proficient in, and I think it shows students the crosscutting concepts that reach across science and engineering domain, things like patterns, and they’re able to see how solving one problem in one area can translate into all kinds of other areas as well.

District STEM Coordinator

My favorite thing about FUSE is the accomplishment and success you feel after you finish a challenge, figure out a problem or find a solution. I just like how great you feel like after you finally figure it out.

8th grader