Putnam County joining a new collaboration between Tennessee Tech, Oak Ridge, and Tennessee 4-H to expand STEM concept education to children across the state.
Putnam Ag Extension Agent Trent Jones said STEMOVATE offers students the chance to learn anything from robotics to invasive species. Jones said it is important for children to learn STEM concepts and be exposed to STEM.
“And that was kind of exciting to the kids, you know,” Jones said. “The normal things like Ag Extension Agents, such as myself, that work with invasive species, with farmers, but then park rangers and then they got into different types of scientists.”
Jones said the program teaches children about artificial intelligence conceptually through physical demonstration, explaining how it works through cups.
“Simple choices and process of elimination to see how you can create artificial intelligence out of just some random objects to predict,” Jones said. “And they learn about choice and randomize selection.”
Jones said many aspects of STEM are intertwined with life and many career fields.
“Just really to see them thinking about how STEM affects their daily life was very important to me,” Jones said.
Algood Elementary School Librarian Shannon Auberson said Jones will walk the sixth graders to the library, where the lessons are hosted. Auberson said she and Jones learned how to teach the program to the sixth grade class through a professional development course over the summer. Auberson said the school aims to open the library as a STEM learning experience kids can utilize for both books and research.
“And it helps them to discover that STEM is fun and exciting and you know maybe help them maybe discover they want to learn more about that once they get into high school and then on into their careers in college,” Auberson said.
Auberson said students participate in lessons once or twice every nine weeks, learning more about different STEM topics such as coding, invasive species and nuclear energy.
“Nuclear power is a huge part of our world here in Tennessee,” Auberson said. “It’s a growing focus, especially in Tennessee, which we already receive most of our electricity from nuclear power here in Tennessee, and we want our students to be on the front end of that.”
Auberson said the state has spearheaded the shift to nuclear energy. Auberson said she wants students to know these concepts are not new, better understanding these concepts for the high school and college years. Auberson said she hopes by 2030, the program will extend to seventh and eighth grade. Auberson said students would get a more complete STEM experience, extending through the middle school years.
“And it’s a perfect time for middle schoolers, because that’s a chance for them to explore STEM in a fun way, and through these lessons, they’ll practice teamwork, solving real-world problems,” Auberson said.
Jones said the program is working in 22 counties this year to offer curriculum to about 6,000 children. Jones said the program began last year in nine counties.