ROCHESTER, Ill. (WAND) - Dozens of students and their parents met at the Central Illinois STEM Fair to learn about local opportunities for learning. Over 20 school districts attended, with 10 hosting exhibits for students. Organizers say its a good way to expose kids to all of the different types of science and technology.
"We realized it as hard for students and families to really understand what's available," said Pete Gegen, Co-Chair of the Central Illinois STEM Fair organizing committee. "When it comes to things like aeronautics, robotics, those events and organizations that are a little more obscure, and people don't realize how many opportunities there are for students in the area."
The STEM fair was launched in 2015 and has grown in popularity ever since. Gegen said hundreds of students have been exposed to the joys of learning through the fair.
Molly Godar, a Science Teacher at Rochester High School, says the event is unique in the way it allows students to teach each other. As they are displaying their projects, they are explaining them to other participants.
"They learn how to be polite, how to manage a group and how to set up activities," said Godar. "They teach kids small, medium, large how to do the event so they learn a lot from them and they get to teach their event. "
Organizers also say its a great opportunity for students to be exposed to potential careers and the technology that will be used during them.
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