Students who attended a recent Science, Technology, Engineering and Math night left with a better understanding of what it would take to think like a computer scientist.
Sara Wisniewski, Monroe Elementary School STEM teacher, said she worked with Western Wyoming Community College associate information technology professor Carla Hester Croff to get the STEM night program at the school.
Wisniewski said Croff brought all of the supplies they needed to have six stations for the program.
During the event, students could use their imagination to build items with the building set k’nex, learn how to make computer codes, interact with robots, build their own video game with Bloxels, use their binary code to make an initial bracelet or using the Makey Makey system to play a piano with Play-Doh and a banana.
“The students just went from place to place,” Wisniewski said. “The teachers helped teach them at each station.”
Even though a similar event was hosted at Jackson Elementary School last year, this was the first time Wisniewski herself was involved in the event.
Some students were familiar with the games, while others were experiencing them for the first time. Wisniewski saw the success of the event and is hoping the school can host another one like it next year.
“Students are very adaptable. They can learn those things that have to do with technology quickly,” Wisniewski said.
Wisniewski said she hopes to incorporate more of the Wyoming Computer Science Zone programs and information into her regular classes.
About 80 people, including 50 students attended the STEM event, which took place in the gym. Wisniewski said the students and parents not only enjoyed the activities, but the pizza and drinks provided by the Parent Teacher Organization.
In the classroom
Wisniewski said she has been using the Amplify Science program in her class to meet the new science standards. This program encourages students to think, read and write like scientists and engineers.
“I see a lot of really strong benefits to it to prepare the students to where the world is going,” she said.
The students have a process they go through to solve a problem. First, they identify the problem. Second, they create a plan to solve the problem. Third, they implement the plan. Fourth, they analyze the results. Based off of those results, the students may discover that they need to complete the entire process again to get the intended result.
“Most of the students say they are excited to come to class and enjoy it while they are here,” Wisniewski said.
The students really seem to enjoy the hands-on component and technology aspect of the program. Wisniewski said she sees the younger students weekly and the older students twice a week. Since this is a new program, Wisniewski said she has already learned what parts of the program work well and what needs some work.
“I’m learning a lot right along with them,” she said.
Elyse Tanner and her mom, Heidi, and her little brother try out the Bloxels game at the Monroe Elementary School STEM night event. Courtesy photo
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