STEM Classes Stimulate StudentsBy stimulating middle school students' interest in areas like robotics, computer graphics and electricity, Lakeview Middle School hopes students will take more related courses in high school.
The students then will know what kind of career they might want to pursue for their futures.
Industrial technology teacher Scott Carmichael is piloting the Learning Based Science Technology Engineering Math program this year. In its second nine weeks, it's set up with 12 modules now and a 13th coming.
Lakeview students can take the course, "Tech 1", one time in seventh grade, but may not take it until eighth grade. Once a student takes Tech 1, they can take Tech 2 up to two times if they want. They are nine-week courses.
Each module is different, said Carmichael in an interview Tuesday morning. Students sit at various computer stations that deliver technical information. The computers show them background information and tests the students. Students are encouraged to use books and partners for mini quizzes.
"We want to encourage them to use different resources," Carmichael said.
For the class, Carmichael doesn't stand in front of the class and lecture. Students learn from the computers, but Carmichael does walk around, answering questions and evaluating the students' work. Their work can include building bridges or putting together a sink.
"One of the big things we stress here is paying attention to detail," he said.
The modules are a wide variety to stir interest in students. They include electricity, engineering bridges, audio broadcasting, bioengineering, electronics, flight technology, computer graphics and animation, alternative energy, practical skills, engines, and research and development. The new one Lakeview is getting is Computer Numerical Control engineering.
"Because I get students from all academic levels, we feel this gives them more educational experience," said Carmichael.
He said he hopes the students might take a module they didn't know anything about before and develop a real interest in it.
Carmichael said he used to teach at Tippecanoe Valley. Valley's middle school used to have the STEM program. When Carmichael came to Warsaw, he asked then-principal Tom Kline about expanding the industrial technology program. Kline was supportive, but then he left for the administration building. Jon Lippe became principal and after being informed about the program, Carmichael said, Lippe also supported it.
Explaining the grading for the course, Carmichael said students start with a pre-test to allow them to know what they're suppose to be learning.
Then students have four days of mini quizzes, and can earn attendance and participation points. After post tests, there's the performance assessments where Carmichael goes around and asks students questions.
Eighth-grader Austin Whitaker is taking his second nine weeks of the course.
"It's pretty fun," Whitaker said. "It's getting to do all the different things you get to do. It's pretty fun. You get to learn a lot."
Whitaker said he likes the electronics module the most because you get to assemble an alarm system, lights and police siren. "It's pretty cool," he said.
"Since it's hands on, I think you're learning a lot more," Whitaker said.
Derreck Davis was working on the bioengineering module Tuesday with his partner, Catherine Leadford. They were testing their flexibility.
Davis said the course was teaching him what he needed to learn for the future. Leadford said she was learning things that might help her in the future.
Eighth-graders Nathan Kiphart and Daniel Gonzalez were struggling a little with the computer graphics and animation module.
"We're making a 3-D virtual world," said Kiphart.
"It's hard," said Gonzalez.
"We don't know how to use the program yet. We're figure it out," added Kiphart.
But both of the boys enjoy the course.
"It's really exciting because you get to learn about different topics each session. It's fun," Kiphart said.
Gonzalez said, "Pretty much what he said. I like working with my hands."
Carmichael has as much fun with the course as the students.
"I love technology," he said. "I love figuring out how things work."
