Pella supports CMS’s new STEM program | News
A recent Pella Corp grant of $2,500 will enable Carroll Middle School to purchase additional materials that students can use to learn in the STEM program.
Pella Carroll Plant Manager Dustin Katje and Human Resources Manager Jeff Heuton presented the donation during a visit to the school’s STEM classroom. Jodi Holdlos and Jerry Raymond, principal of Pella Carroll were the first to accept the gift.
Handlos said purchases likely will include 3D printer, 3D pens, color printers, robotics, snap circuits and more, remarking, “all things kids can use in the design process to explore those areas.”
Katje said Pella’s donation was a follow-up on National Manufacturing Month observance in October and “will give kids the ability to get some real-life hands-on applications to what we see in a manufacturing setting.”
Katje explained that solving problems is essential for manufacturing operations. Katje also stated that some STEM-related experience may encourage students to consider a career within this field.
“You look at the labor shortage in manufacturing, and it’s a big problem right now,” he said. “Right now the Baby Boomers are retiring, and they’re not being replaced quickly enough. So it’s important we continue to think about that pipeline and how do we make sure manufacturing is set for the future. And this (STEM-education) and to be able to support our local schools in their journeys is a piece of that.”
Handlos shared her following description she’s written for the STEM program: “I am excited to introduce to you the new middle school STEM program! STEM stands for science technology, engineering, math. The program will cover the Iowa’s new computer science standards as well as some of the Next Generation Science Standards. Lessons in 7th and 8th grade cover the steps of the engineering process. In the future, I hope to incorporate additional tools in centers, like 3D pens, a 3D printer, a cricut, snap circuits, plastic fusion, a variety of robots, and unbuilding/reverse engineering.”
Before accepting the STEM position, Handlos, a 22-year veteran at CMS, formerly taught sixth-grade reading, language and science. Handlos said that she was a science teacher who emphasized hands-on learning and so was asked to fill this STEM job.
All of CMS’s 496 students will participate in STEM.
For two classes, fifth and sixth-graders have STEM class twice a week for six days.
Each week, sixth-graders have the opportunity to create and explore with different digital materials through WIN (What We Need) STEM.
For 36 days, seventh and eighth graders participate in STEM together with their homeroom group.
In the STEM classroom, Pella’s Katje pointed out a poster that describes the engineering design process: “Ask (Find out more about the problem.You can imagine (Think big). Take into account the options, Plan (Think about the next steps), and Create (Follow your plan). Develop a model. Improve it and get feedback. talk to others).” That’s the same process used at Pella, he said.
“We focus on our ‘steps to design’ process, and we’ve talked about how Pella uses those steps as well,” Handlos said.
Handlos said she also emphasizes “The 4C’s” highlighted on another poster in her classroom: Critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
“We’re really interested in seeing how your program evolves,” Katje told Handlos, “and if you get down the road and there’s something we can do to help, be sure to let us know. It’s important for kids to have these opportunities and get exposure to the technology that’s out there.”