Georgia State University
Planting STEM Seeds METRO ATLANTA UNIVERSITIES ENGAGE K-12 STUDENTS WITH CLASSROOM AND VIRTUAL STEM PROGRAMS By Ken Abramczyk
A
s science, technology, engineer-
solving the greatest problems of our time
Georgia Institute of Technology. “They can
ing and math fields advance at
and understanding the world around us.”
work on messy, big projects that a teacher
mind-numbing speeds, educators
may not want to take on in a classroom.”
know K-12 STEM instruction is critical
The Georgia Institute of Technology
in that tomorrow’s leaders must mas-
The Georgia Institute of Technology,
kids to Georgia Tech’s campus last year.
ter these topics. While all of Georgia’s
or Georgia Tech, hosts a multitude of
Students dissected a squid, built a roller
colleges and universities recognize the
programs through its Center for Educa-
coaster and worked on game development
importance of STEM education at the
tion Integrating Science, Mathematics and
at some of the workshops. Students are
collegiate level, many of them are work-
Computing (CEISMC). Now in its 30th
interested in robotics as well, DeStefano
ing to promote STEM at the K-12 level as
year, CEISMC brings high-quality STEM
says. “We get them to think of robotics
well, upgrading programs, initiatives and
education to PreK through grade 12
and technology as a way of solving soci-
offerings to K-12 students and teachers.
students. Georgia Tech students help with
ety’s problems,” she explains. “We try to
instruction and coordination of some of
expose them to robotics and technology,
the programs.
get them excited about these fields and put
“Research shows that science and engineering instruction often is not prioritized in elementary schools, and this lack of
For instance, CEISMC schedules a KIDS
The STEAM workshops drew 300
them on a path to do great things.”
priority is exacerbated in underserved and
Club for younger elementary students and
CEISMC’s programs encourage in-per-
under-resourced schools,” says Amanda
STEAM for grades seven through 12 on
son, hands-on learning, but COVID-19
Buice, executive director of the Georgia
Saturdays. These programs are “designed
changed all of that. To keep students
Youth Science and Technology Centers,
to give students STEM experience,” says
involved, CEISMC launched the STEAM
headquartered at Kennesaw State Univer-
Lizanne DeStefano, executive director of
whistle online program in March 2020,
sity. “Yet, STEM skills are essential tools for
CEISMC and professor of psychology at the
compiling and distributing kits for stuWINTER 2022 KNOWAtlanta 65
