STEM Minute | Celebrating STEM education in 2024 | News

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — As the door gets ready to close on 2024, it is a time to celebrate the advancements in STEM education and how it has become more accessible to a wide range of students. Over the summer day camps were hosted and as school got ready to start for the year more courses were introduced to allow students to explore different STEM concepts.

Jamie Fawley, the director of education and outreach at the Children's Museum of Central Illinois, said, "We thought introducing a camp here would kind of you know introduce science in a more playful and welcoming way so that there wasn't that intimidation factor."

A partnership between the Children's Museum of Central Illinois and Millikin University, created a camp that made a huge splash. Chem Girls combined food chemistry with different things that the campers already knew and loved so they could relate the concepts to their everyday lives. A major goal of the camp was helping young girls find their passion for learning while making their mark in the science field.

Anne Rodriguez, an associate professor of chemistry and physics at Millikin University said, "Science is doable and that most people can be involved in science that there aren't the imaginary barriers that maybe they see right. They may not see someone like them in science yet, but they can change that by just staying science."

Younger students also got their opportunity to explore the STEM field. Programs like Parkland's College for Kids made it possible to take a variety of different classes and find their interests.

Trent Chassy, a College for Kids instructor, said, "Giving these kids the basic ability to interact with the technology that we have they will already be fruitful strong members of society in whatever field they are going in to."

Engineering with Lego was one course that was offered that gave students a chance to build their confidence one block at a time.

"We are learning the basic coding principles and mechanical engineering principles they're building cars and ferris wheels and arcade games and all kinds of cool stuff to give them the skills to have big fruitful rich careers as future engineers keeping our country moving."

The students started with simple concepts and as they learned they became more complex.

"It's the basis of how we conduct life and so having a STEM education at some level will benefit any student who wants to change the world for the better."

Parkland College also hosted a camp called Messy Scientist that was very popular with students over the summer. The kids in the class got hands on experience in the lab which allowed them to better apply what they were learning to their everyday lives.

Angie Fitzgerald, a College for Kids instructor said, "They get to learn the topic and then do it right away so that they can make that connection between what they are learning and then the real-life application."

One of the students favorite projects this year was building solar ovens to make s'mores. Each program that was offered through College for Kids shared one united goal, which was to peak the interests of kids so they would develop a love of learning.

"Science technology engineering and math they're important in almost any field that you work in, and they'll teach you communication skills development skills whether it's in designing a curriculum to basic engineering"

Super Scream Bros is another program that encourages kids to find a love for learning early in life. The group allows kids to build their own robots and then compete in competitions where they try to complete tasks to be the best if the best.

"We started with teaching students' basic designs we had them design a snowflake a pyramid and an additional design and them we will continue to allow them to design their own custom parts which we will print and give to them."

Teaching kids it is important to strive for their best while learning what it takes to become an engineer. Kids also got outside of the classroom this summer and into the barn to learn more about animal science while showing their animals at local county fairs.

Evan Hall, the Macon County Fair Board President, said, "This isn't just a tradition it's something for the next generation they need to have this; they deserve it."

Showing animals is a project that can bring the whole family together to learn more about animal science.

"They learn a lot about animal science animal nutrition things that come in handy, but the most important thing is what you can teach other people you know sometimes you can show them and get a chance to teach their peers a lot about livestock."

These kids were able to learn more about themselves, the importance of work ethic, and leadership skills. As students headed back to the classroom, they were still motivated to keep learning. Students at Effingham High School were encouraged to find a passion of their own through their multimedia class.

Charlie Huber, the Multimedia Instructor at Effingham High School, said, "A lot of times we'll have classes that teach specific subjects and those are very important subjects like math, it's important to be able to learn how to do math. This gives students the opportunity to learn how to use math in a lot of different areas and variety."

Students picked a skill that they wanted to teach themselves ranging from writing, playing an instrument, photo and video editing, sewing, interior design, and even stop motion animation. Instructors like Charlie Huber, hopes to prepare his students for the next steps in life by celebrating their successes and learning from their failures.

"I want kids to try things, and I want them to be okay whenever they fail as long as they learn from those things because that's really what the next step in their journey is going to be all about."

The reach of STEM education continues to grow and as we get ready to enter 2025, more programs will continue to teach students important lessons for their futures.