Cover Story

MOBILE STEM LAB

“The most immediate applications of A.I. have been directed toward assisting us in our daily lives: robots to vacuum our floors and deliver our THE NEW groceries or deep learning programs to help us decide what is best to eat - all to make our lives feel somewhat easier. To do so, however, requires MOBILE STEM LAB

data, lots of data. And in the gathering of that

data, A.I. can become invasive, making our lives feel somewhat more vulnerable.” AT ALBANY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

The objective of the Mobile STEM lab is to expose current and prospective students to the different facets of engineering technology by way of providing instruction and demonstrating the usage of engineering-associated equipment and tools.

In August 2019, the college initiated a request to purchase a Mobile Stem Lab for the engineering department. The $280,000 lab was finished late last year and is now ready to use in the community. It was funded by grant money from the U.S. Department of Education. For years, transportation to campus has been an issue for our students in the surrounding rural counties. This new lab will enable the college to provide students with information on engineering fields based on the lab’s resources and provide ATC the opportunity to offer instructional engineering classes within the mobile lab.

“The STEM field is not only growing for individuals to enter the workforce and get these kinds of jobs but also cultivates the students, helping with their problem solving and critical thinking skills and we want to encourage more students to get involved in the STEM field,” said Dr. La’Quata Sumter, Program Chair, Instructor in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The 30-foot trailer is custom made with ten computer workstations, air conditioning, sound-deadening walls, a lavatory, a 40” external viewable monitor, a 55” touchscreen TV, speakers, and a wireless microphone system. The lab also has a 24-port switch CAT 6 network with printer and scanner, a router, and two roof-mounted antennas. A 12-kilowatt diesel generator is available for power.

The plan is to take this mobile lab on the road out into the Albany Tech 7 county service delivery area including Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, Randolph, Clay, Calhoun and Baker counties and introduce students to STEM and the

WHAT IS STEM AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE?

According to the U.S. Department of Education, it’s more important than ever that our nation’s youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions. These are the kinds of skills that students develop in science, technology, engineering, and math. The educational website goes on to say, “If we want a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers can understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students’ skills, content knowledge, and literacy in STEM fields is essential. We must also make sure that, no matter where children live, they have access to quality learning environments. A child’s zip code should not determine their STEM literacy and educational options.”

With the growth in biomedicine, microfabrication, robotics and artificial intelligence, its never been more important for students to have an opportunity to learn about these things that will be seen and utilized in everyday life in the modern world. The next generation of innovators will need to develop the critical thinking skills that will lead to new products and processes. Our economy demands that these kinds of thinkers are in place to economics. The solid knowledge bases in these STEM areas is vital for our future.

STEM occupations usually offer higher than normal wages. Employment growth in these areas is higher over the next 10 years than non-STEM jobs. The focus on hands-on learning in applications will spark creativity and drive innovation as we

move deeper into the 21st century. STEM education gives people skills that make them more employable. This well-rounded education enables a deeper understanding of the world around us. Innovation like this can lead to new products and better ways of doing business more efficiently.

According to theEdvocate, an online advocate group arguing for shifts in education policy and organization in order to enhance the quality of education, there are 7 benefits of STEM education in our early childhood and k-12 system: • Fosters ingenuity and creativity • Encourages experimentation • Encourages teamwork • Encourages knowledge application • Encourages tech use • Teaches problem-solving • Encourages adaption

Students who are trained in this manner will apply what they have learned and by taking these learned scenarios into the future, they will be able to adapt those concepts in problems or issues that may arise. The blend of career and skills education via mobile brings the in-classroom opportunities directly to the kids that need it so badly. It really is an engaging and hands-on experience that leaves a student excited about the possibilities in fields that may seem intimidating at a distance. Exposing kids to this traveling classroom can open up a world that can change their life in exciting and relevant ways.