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Sunday, March 25, 2018

STEM at the Library



by Jennifer Nicholson  Rowan Public Library

Most of us have heard of the acronym STEM, from teachers, leaders in education, scientists, to even presidents of the United States.  But what does that really mean?  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; another acronym that is sometimes used alternately is STEAM, which includes Art.  But what does this really mean, and why is STEM or STEAM so important?

In March 2015, then President Barack Obama said, "[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world...".  STEM is not just studying these set subjects, but rather a different way of thinking.  The US Department of Education stated it best as, “In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, where success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, it’s more important than ever for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information.” STEM education is about critical thinking, observation, and creativity.

Projections done by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2010-2020 predicts employment in STEM related fields to grow by 18.7%, while other career fields are predicted by 14.3%.  Meaning STEM is becoming the future, thus, the reason for the US Department of Education to create new initiatives to help recruit more teachers focused on STEM and improving STEM education in preschools and in elementary schools to help better prepare our children for the future.

However, this initiative is not only being seen in schools and preschools, but also after school care, extracurricular activities, and also within public libraries.  The Rowan Public Library has been making great strives this year in creating programs and finding resources that are STEM focused.  RPL has also been recipients of several grants this year, including one with the partnership of Catawba College Teacher Education Department, has helped create and boost our makerspace or “The Coop”, to include Makey-Makeys, Raspberry Pi, and a green screen for film making, to name just a few items.  Another grant was given to RPL from the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), which has allowed RPL to purchase several robots to help boost STEM and coding programing, for children as young as 4 years old and up to 11 years old.  RPL has been and will continue to host several events in which families and children can come, meet, and play with robots.  RPL will host a Preschool Robotics program on Saturday, April 7th at 11:00 am at the East Branch, Rockwell location.  Children and families can come and meet Cubetto, a wooden robot, that requires no special device or screen technology to code.  Come join Cubetto has he goes on specialize adventures, with his own storybook and map!

RPL also this year has been a recipient of the Star Party kit part of the 2018 North Carolina Science Festival, which is supported from the North Carolina Space Grant and produced by UNC’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.  RPL is one of 37 sites to receive this kit, with this year being the first year that the NC Science Festival has included public libraries, making RPL one of 6 public libraries in the state to receive this kit.  RPL will be hosting the Star Party and celebrating everything space related on Friday, April 20th from 7:30 pm-10:30 pm, at South Rowan Regional Library, China Grove.  For information or to find more science theme activities in North Carolina, please check out the NC Science Festival website at: https://www.ncsciencefestival.org/ or RPL’s website at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.

Want to play with more robots?  What happens when robots meet Legos?  RPL will host a STEAM into Adventure: Robots and Legos event on Saturday, April 28th at 11:00 am.  Children 5-11 years old, and families can come and play with Lego WeDo 2.0, Dash, and Cubelets, and see what happens if you mix them!  How well can robots and Legos get along?

For more information on upcoming STEM programs and other programs, please check out our website at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.

Jennifer Nicholson


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