Some Gering youngsters are getting hands on experience this week with a Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) learning activity.
Elementary students from Gering Public School’s High Ability Learners (HAL) program convened at the Gering Library this week to learn how to code and make a robot respond to their commands.
Youth Services Librarian Christie Clarke teamed up with the AIM Institute to lead this STEM learning activity.
“STEM became a focal point because educators and people in the workforce started recognizing that the kids graduating from high school just did not have the… they were not keeping up with technology, the skills they needed,” explained Clarke.
She says Geil Principal Angela Morris had reached out to her to see if the library could spearhead a coding program for the HAL program. Clarke reached out to Carlos Williams with AIM so they could put on this program together.
Simultaneously, Clarke had learned the Nebraska Library Commission had STEM kits for libraries across the state to use. In turn, she was able to secure approximately a dozen Ozobot Bit Robots for the 3-5th graders.
The goal with the Ozobot Bit Robots is to have students hone their coding skills so their robot will perform certain commands when placed on the specialized course.
Next month, Clarke plans on utilizing Oculus Virtual Reality technology to older HAL students.
Williams tells KNEB that it’s never too early for children to start learning these STEM skills, and can set them up for future success.
“Tech is just everywhere we go,” says Williams. “So especially here in the Panhandle there isn’t a STEM program. So the thing is, if we can get tech into kids hands a lot earlier, a lot sooner- we can grow that tech community.
The Nebraska State Tech Collaborative says the state will face a shortage of 10,000 tech workers by 2025, so getting more and more people interested in STEM at an early age will hopefully help to close that gap.
