Step aside, traditional textbooks and classroom lectures—today's students are stepping into a world where learning means diving into 3D printing programs, cracking codes with Google and even battling it out in video game arenas!
CPS Blended Learning Coordinator, Tiffini Gray, orchestrated an exciting day at the University of Cincinnati (UC) Innovation Hub for seventh and eighth-grade students enrolled at Hartwell, bringing together various departments and partners to create hands-on learning experiences with future technology.
The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) event is a collaboration between the curriculum department, program managers, science managers and the Learning Technology Team (LTT). Gray explains that Hartwell is just the start of a larger focus on bringing immersive learning experiences to STEAM-focused CPS schools.
As the students arrive, they are greeted with a diverse array of activities. They participate in three rotations: Google logo coding with a partner, 3D printing with Polar Cloud and a tour of the UC esports lab arena and maker space area.
Gray emphasized the importance of out-of-classroom experiences as opportunities like these have not been presented to students since the pandemic.
“Some of the faculty at the school shared with me that this group of students has not been on any field trip experience for the past two to three years,” said Gray. “And with any STEAM-related career, it really takes an exploration opportunity like what we are doing here at the UC Innovation Lab to spark an interest for these students.”
Gray aims not only to ignite students' passion for STEAM-related career fields through engaging activities like video games and 3D printing but also to illuminate the wealth of resources available, such as UC and local libraries.
“There are opportunities available to them five or so years from now, but sparking their interest today can even inspire their high school choice if they find that a technology pathway is something they wish to pursue,” said Gray.
After this enriching field trip experience, these students have not just leveled up their skills—they're now one step closer to becoming the future pioneers of technology.
