Program gaining STEAM in West Virginia
Trending
WEIRTON - A program born as a way to address the learning loss experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown in the years since to offer experiences for students all over West Virginia.
West Virginia's STEAM Technical Assistance Center was first announced on Dec. 8, 2021, and implemented in middle schools beginning the following February. Focusing on providing support and activities in the classroom in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, it now is available to middle schools in all 55 counties.
"We're starting off our third year and we wanted to raise awareness," explained Jennifer Schwertfeger, the program manager, who is a former life science educator and has served as science coordinator for the West Virginia Department of Education, Office of Teaching and Learning, Middle and Secondary Services.
Friday morning, Schwertfeger and Melissa Bane, a Weirton resident and former Hancock County educaor now working as a STEAM specialist, were on hand in Gina Brecht's seventh-grade classroom at Weir Middle School, helping to kick off the program's third year.
"We've been able to be at Weir Middle every year of the program," noted Bane.
As part of Friday's visit, students were divided into groups to design and build a "kicker-style" projectile launcher, which, once complete, would be used to launch ping-pong balls as part of lessons on potential and kinetic energy.
Bane noted while there is a focus on the sciences and math fields, the lessons from STEAM TAC can be applied to other areas, including language and history, and even help to expand their career opportunities later in life.
STEAM TAC representatives bring materials with each visit, which then are incorporated into the planned activity, and then can be used for additional lessons.
Bane explained, following the successes seen at the middle school level, the STEAM program now is making its way into West Virginia's high schools. While middle school students will focus on engineering-related activities, high schoolers will take on computer science-based projects. One in particular focuses on creating a plan to address the increasing need for parking at the visitors centers at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
"The kids are really engaged," Bane said. "It's high energy. We've had teachers literally say it was a breath of fresh air."