(by Don Meador, Allen County Schools)
Laser cutting and printing, 3-D printing, virtual reality exploration, creative thinking materials, and t-shirt making are just a few of the many activities now available to all students in the Allen County School District. A ribbon cutting ceremony March 20 officially opened a repurposed classroom inside the Patriot Academy---a classroom specially set aside for students and teachers to experience hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related activities.
The official opening of the STEM Hub reflects a yearlong process of visioning, planning, and preparing for the STEM Hub to be put into daily use. Last year, the District turned the former Allen County Vocational School into Patriot Academy.
“Patriot Academy is an alternative learning environment,” explained Allen County School superintendent Travis Hamby during the ceremony. “Our original purpose was for this room to be a place where our students who were learning virtually could come in and engage in hands-on collaborative activities. That idea began to grow. As we had the opportunity to think about it, the idea of a room that would be used across the District as a STEM room started to develop. We want to promote more interest in STEM among our students.”
The idea fell in line with the new vision for learning in Allen County Schools and into the Portrait of a Patriot.
“One of the core things we wanted to work on is authentic learning opportunities for our students,” Hamby continued. “That’s really more real-world, engaging hands-on kinds of activities. That aligns 100 percent with the STEM activities that we already have.”
The Allen County Schools Gifted and Talented program has already begun using the room. Since last fall, Gifted and Talented students have been in the Hub once a week, engaging in STEM activities such as bridge-building exercises and creative-cooperative learning. Virtual students have already used the room as have classes from the high school. Hamby stressed that the room is a location for any teacher in the District to be able to bring their class to engage students in STEM-related projects.
“We are seeing interest already,” Hamby said. “It is open to all teachers across the District. They can schedule the use of this space and the equipment that is here.”
The Hub has been equipped with a wide variety of technology equipment for students to use.
“We have a Lego wall in the back and where we have mobile boards that can be moved around,” explained Allen County School’s Chief Academic Officer Melissa Biggerstaff. “We also have a mini-Mac lab with MacBook’s, IPad’s, and virtual reality goggles. We have maker-space tables, which is a place for kids just to be creative and to think outside the box. We have a Glow Forge which is a laser cutter and printer. We have the ability to make t-shirts. We can also image make on cups and mugs. We have a 3-D printer, which gives up the ability to build what we can imagine. In the back corner is a heat press. We also have projects for younger kids for them to participate in. We have tried to think across the spectrum, K through 12.”
Biggerstaff added that plans are in the works that will allow students to connect creativity to marketing.
“We have the opportunity to have students create a business plan and start selling the things they create,” Biggerstaff said. “Instead of out sourcing, we want to generate some revenue to help sustain the materials.”
The ribbon cutting involved school officials, community leaders, Scottsville Chamber of Commerce members, and members of the Allen County Board of Education. Attendees could walk around the room and see several projects already completed.