What do the terms blockchain analyst, social media manager, content producer, user experience designer, telemedicine physician, cloud architect and chief listening officer have in common? According to Forbes, these are all highly-sought, in-demand jobs that are integral to the modern private and public sector landscapes that did not exist 15 or even 10 years ago.
It isn’t any wonder that technology-based roles have grown into prominence, with technology - and more specifically, the internet - integrating into every aspect of our lives. The majority of these integrations have added positive value to our daily experiences, and so it follows for our children. If one of the purposes of childhood education is to expand the learning experience in a way that prepares our children to make the most of their futures, technology and STEM programs are critical components of the school day.
And, according to the students attending the MEF-funded STEM, eLab, Literacy Lab and Robotics in the mountain’s three schools, they are also a whole lot of fun.
Investing in these programs and educators benefits students today by increasing engagement with the traditional core curriculum, in addition to preparing them for the skillsets that colleges, universities and the workforce are expecting.
Through community donations to the Mountain Education Foundation, Signal Mountain can boast being one of the few communities in the county with a K-12 Tech and STEM continuation. Providing insights into a student’s typical tech-at-school day are Kellie Robison, Chase Woods, Ricky McEvoy and Rob Dodson - four local educators supporting our children in their explorations of tech-academic integration.
Chase Woods | STEM Lab - Nolan Elementary School
“What I do here is either go into more depth on what they are learning in their science block or I actually have the opportunity to show them. For instance, third-graders have the opportunity to conceptualize, build and test rockets. For several weeks they will be engaged with engineering, problem-solving, critical thinking and collaborating. In here, they have the opportunity to test out what is being taught. They can see science become real.
Fifth-graders have the opportunity to build circuit systems from scratch. They can try and fail and try again until they get it. That hands-on-learning is really important, as is seeing why something doesn’t work. Observing why something doesn’t work, brainstorming with others to test and re-test the solution is a vital skill. They are recognizing patterns, learning how to incorporate suggestions, and building confidence by applying what they learned.
Universities and employers are placing greater and greater emphasis on collaboration. With STEM Lab in these early years, students are introduced to the thought-processes that make collaborative projects successful - like active listening. You don’t have to agree, but if you don’t listen to your teammate, you might miss out on a perspective or insight that can lead the group to a solution. Knowing when to listen and when to speak up, how to test your ideas and see results in real time is valuable.”
Kellie Robison | Literacy Computer Lab - Nolan Elementary School
“I have been with Nolan 20 years and have seen an evolution of technology instruction over that time. When I began, the computer lab focused on things like typing, Excel programs, etc. We have since evolved into a literacy lab, with the emphasis on introducing our students to programs that will reinforce the Language Arts instruction they receive in their classrooms. One of my major roles is to help students, especially in kindergarten and first grade, navigate their Chromebooks and the installed programs. Reading Eggs and iReady are just two of the literacy programs that have been definite boosts in helping students increase literacy skills and concepts. The programs make these skills fun while also helping teachers identify each student’s strengths and areas where extra instruction might be necessary.”
Ricky McEvoy | eLab - Thrasher Elementary School
“I have been with MEF for 16 years and in that time have continued to support both Thrasher and Nolan with IT to their student technology and computer equipment. These past few years, I have also been using my time to secure grants that develop STEM and tech instruction and help outfit our eLab that opened in 2021.
MEF supports me in my role of eLab instructor. The main purpose of the eLab is to build solutions and support learning that is happening in the classroom. The state and county have standards that all our students and teachers work hard to meet. In the eLab, I help the school stay ahead of the curve with various technology-integrated learning opportunities. The goal is not to just meet the standard, but level it up.”
Rob Dodson | eLab/Robotics - SMMHS
“I have been teaching STEM [eLab] here about six years. The role of this lab is for students to work through the engineering design cycle, which is really product-based problem solving.
The biggest take-away that they can apply to other classes is the ability to work with other students. In traditional classroom settings, there is a lot of individualized learning. Certainly they have group work, where students might work on a math problem or history project together. But here it’s a little bit different when you are dealing with a product - what are you designing, how’s it going to work, how are we actually going to construct this thing in order to make it work in the way that we want it to? In eLab, or even on the Robotics team, they take the information or knowledge-base they acquire in the classroom and apply it. They also see how it is applied in the very technologies they are using to work through the design cycle.
In regards to the STEM or eLab, the county has funded the equipment. However, as part of our agreement with the county, MEF fully funds our consumables and other materials. We could have the best machinery and equipment in the world - and they are quality - but we wouldn’t be able to do much without these materials that allow us to put the equipment to use. The Robotics program is completely MEF-dependent. They fully fund the program, insofar as registration fees, etc … as well as materials.”
by Corina Lopes
It isn’t any wonder that technology-based roles have grown into prominence, with technology - and more specifically, the internet - integrating into every aspect of our lives. The majority of these integrations have added positive value to our daily experiences, and so it follows for our children. If one of the purposes of childhood education is to expand the learning experience in a way that prepares our children to make the most of their futures, technology and STEM programs are critical components of the school day.
And, according to the students attending the MEF-funded STEM, eLab, Literacy Lab and Robotics in the mountain’s three schools, they are also a whole lot of fun.
Investing in these programs and educators benefits students today by increasing engagement with the traditional core curriculum, in addition to preparing them for the skillsets that colleges, universities and the workforce are expecting.
Through community donations to the Mountain Education Foundation, Signal Mountain can boast being one of the few communities in the county with a K-12 Tech and STEM continuation. Providing insights into a student’s typical tech-at-school day are Kellie Robison, Chase Woods, Ricky McEvoy and Rob Dodson - four local educators supporting our children in their explorations of tech-academic integration.
Chase Woods | STEM Lab - Nolan Elementary School
“What I do here is either go into more depth on what they are learning in their science block or I actually have the opportunity to show them. For instance, third-graders have the opportunity to conceptualize, build and test rockets. For several weeks they will be engaged with engineering, problem-solving, critical thinking and collaborating. In here, they have the opportunity to test out what is being taught. They can see science become real.
Fifth-graders have the opportunity to build circuit systems from scratch. They can try and fail and try again until they get it. That hands-on-learning is really important, as is seeing why something doesn’t work. Observing why something doesn’t work, brainstorming with others to test and re-test the solution is a vital skill. They are recognizing patterns, learning how to incorporate suggestions, and building confidence by applying what they learned.
Universities and employers are placing greater and greater emphasis on collaboration. With STEM Lab in these early years, students are introduced to the thought-processes that make collaborative projects successful - like active listening. You don’t have to agree, but if you don’t listen to your teammate, you might miss out on a perspective or insight that can lead the group to a solution. Knowing when to listen and when to speak up, how to test your ideas and see results in real time is valuable.”
Kellie Robison | Literacy Computer Lab - Nolan Elementary School
“I have been with Nolan 20 years and have seen an evolution of technology instruction over that time. When I began, the computer lab focused on things like typing, Excel programs, etc. We have since evolved into a literacy lab, with the emphasis on introducing our students to programs that will reinforce the Language Arts instruction they receive in their classrooms. One of my major roles is to help students, especially in kindergarten and first grade, navigate their Chromebooks and the installed programs. Reading Eggs and iReady are just two of the literacy programs that have been definite boosts in helping students increase literacy skills and concepts. The programs make these skills fun while also helping teachers identify each student’s strengths and areas where extra instruction might be necessary.”
Ricky McEvoy | eLab - Thrasher Elementary School
“I have been with MEF for 16 years and in that time have continued to support both Thrasher and Nolan with IT to their student technology and computer equipment. These past few years, I have also been using my time to secure grants that develop STEM and tech instruction and help outfit our eLab that opened in 2021.
MEF supports me in my role of eLab instructor. The main purpose of the eLab is to build solutions and support learning that is happening in the classroom. The state and county have standards that all our students and teachers work hard to meet. In the eLab, I help the school stay ahead of the curve with various technology-integrated learning opportunities. The goal is not to just meet the standard, but level it up.”
Rob Dodson | eLab/Robotics - SMMHS
“I have been teaching STEM [eLab] here about six years. The role of this lab is for students to work through the engineering design cycle, which is really product-based problem solving.
The biggest take-away that they can apply to other classes is the ability to work with other students. In traditional classroom settings, there is a lot of individualized learning. Certainly they have group work, where students might work on a math problem or history project together. But here it’s a little bit different when you are dealing with a product - what are you designing, how’s it going to work, how are we actually going to construct this thing in order to make it work in the way that we want it to? In eLab, or even on the Robotics team, they take the information or knowledge-base they acquire in the classroom and apply it. They also see how it is applied in the very technologies they are using to work through the design cycle.
In regards to the STEM or eLab, the county has funded the equipment. However, as part of our agreement with the county, MEF fully funds our consumables and other materials. We could have the best machinery and equipment in the world - and they are quality - but we wouldn’t be able to do much without these materials that allow us to put the equipment to use. The Robotics program is completely MEF-dependent. They fully fund the program, insofar as registration fees, etc … as well as materials.”
by Corina Lopes
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