STEM Brings New Learning Opportunities in Gary
New learning opportunities are underway in Gary Community Schools. Bailly STEM Academy was recently STEM Certified by the Indiana Department of Education, with Beveridge Elementary School and Glen Park Academy also having STEM initiatives in progress.
Makerspace at Beveridge Elementary
Part of the initiative to include STEM learning across Gary Community Schools includes adding makerspaces and STEM labs to provide flexible learning environments where project-based learning will occur. “Space can be incredibly important in determining how learning happens. Makerspaces provide an opportunity to pair classroom learning with hands-on making to bring learning to life,” said Mary Rinehart, President and CEO of 1st Maker Space. Gary Community Schools partnered with 1st Maker Space to install twelve makerspaces, STEM labs, and robotics labs across Bailly STEM Academy, Glen Park Academy, and Beveridge Elementary School. These state-of-the-art learning spaces are designed to fit inside the existing building, and instead of only one makerspace, teachers at these schools will have access to several different areas for project-based and hands-on learning.
Professional development and curriculum innovations have been the backbone of the learning transformation in Gary Community Schools. Equitable Education Services has partnered with Gary Community Schools throughout the process, providing school improvement and STEM consulting.
3D Printers at Bailly STEM Academy
1st Maker Space has also provided professional development and curriculum, specifically targeted towards using the equipment in the makerspace to enable cross-curricular learning opportunities. Although scheduling professional development has been challenging with staffing shortages across schools, educators have found joy in discovering how new technology can inspire their students to love learning. Last week, Kim Brand, Technology Advisor at 1st Maker Space, visited Gary Community Schools to conduct several equipment training sessions on 3D printers. “In the 3D printer training session, we designed a personal ‘bookbag’ nametag using TinkerCad and 3D printed each one. Everyone was able to take home something with their name on it, which is often the first lesson teachers will use the 3D printer for,” said Brand. The nametag lesson can be found here, and additional training resources for 3D printers can be found here. This simple lesson teaches 3D modeling skills while reinforcing basic CAD (Computer Aided Design) skills: shapes, measurement, and dimensions, and is ideal for 2nd grade and up.
Nametag printing in progress.
Although makerspaces are new to Gary Community Schools, the region has a rich steel manufacturing history, founded by the U.S. Steel Corporation in 1906. For students in elementary school, makerspaces offer an opportunity to develop agency. For middle and high school students, makerspaces inspire students to explore different career pathways and apply academic content to real-world settings.
Gary Community Schools will be showcasing their new makerspaces at the upcoming district STEM Fair. For more information about designing and implementing a makerspace, contact 1st Maker Space today.