MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia education officials are welcoming a new STEAM Technical Assistance Center, aimed at training students for future careers in science and technology.
The facility opened Thursday at Mountaineer Middle School in Morgantown. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
STEAM TAC will focus primarily on middle school students in grades 6-8 throughout 2022 while providing professional learning for teachers.
Officials hope to expand the program to all middle and high school students in grades 6-12 after the first year.
The project is in partnership with West Virginia University and the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative.
“They’re going to offer resources and actually be in those classrooms working with teachers,” said State Schools Superintendent Clayton Burch on Thursday’s MetroNew “Talkline.”
WVPEC Executive Director Donna Peduto was also a guest on “Talkline” and spoke of the center during the state Board of Education’s monthly meeting in Charleston Wednesday. She said the program includes all hands-on learning.
“It’s transformational how different it is because if it’s relatable and they’re working on a solution for a real world problem, it sticks with them all the way and they take it with them through life,” Peduto said.
Peduto said businesses are already moving to the state and need workers. She said STEAM TAC can help students prepare for those jobs.
“The high tech companies are all putting up billboards that they need people. I think sometimes students don’t have that background at a young age and so they’re not selecting these careers. I think it’s going to be a game changer for our state,” she said.
Burch agrees.
“We got to make sure our graduates are ready, not only with the knowledge and content to do these jobs, but thsee businesses are also looking for those soft skills,” he said.
The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) has partnered with the STEAM TAC to provide nearly 1,500 STEAM kits to sixth graders at participating schools and organizations.
Burch said the center is going to be a resource for the entire state.
“We’re one of the top 10 states that offer computer science courses in every one of our public schools and this partnership is just going to increase those experiences we want these children to have,” he said.
In a statement, WVU President Gordon Gee said in part, “Our fundamental purpose at West Virginia University is to enhance educational opportunities for everyone and this exciting collaboration builds on the existing relationships we have with schools across our state – especially important given the obstacles so many of our students have faced during the pandemic.”