Hagie Foundation gives middle school STEM program a boost

Educators are finding more and more ways to incorporate STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—in the classroom, which gives students hands-on experiences with the ways technology shapes our world. This year, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School science teachers Pat O’Brien and Jay Jackson have been helping their students further their STEM experience through Makey Makey kits, technology and circuit-building equipment purchased through grants from the governor’s STEM advisory council.

The kits’ effectiveness was limited because the students had few classroom computers available to connect to the kits. But with a grant from the Hagie Foundation, the school was recently able to purchase six new Chromebook laptops, which means more students can work on different projects at a time.

Steve Haberman, middle school principal, said the students have really enjoyed using the kits, and that it’s good for their learning. “It’s not teacher-driven and directed, it’s students’ own projects,” he said. “You want them to explore, discover, get their curiosity going.”

Lisa Hagie, speaking for the foundation, said the company was happy to support students’ growth. “It’s really cool to light their fire like this, to get kids interested in STEM,” she said.

For the full story, see the February 23 edition of the Monitor.