WASHINGTON, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A local school corporation is now partnering with a university to enhance STEM learning for students.
Thursday Washington Junior High School celebrated the opening of its Design and Innovation Studio. It’s in partnership with Vincennes University and IN-MAC. IN-MAC stands for Indiana Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center at Purdue University.
The studio uses technology like robotic arms and 3-D printers to teach students about STEM.
VU reportedly provided the funding for the studio.
Nikki Sparks, the Integrations Specialist at Washington Community Schools says that even the teachers are learning new things with the program.
“Our teachers have just been really an active participant in this and being trained and reaching out to the students,” said Sparks.
“That’s probably the next step,” Washington Community Schools Superintendent Kevin Frank said. “It’s so new, it just came in here at the end of the summer. We were able to train a few teachers, so that’s probably really our next goal.”
Vincennes University plans to open ten more studios like this in Indiana over the next five years. The Washington D&I Studio is the fourth in the program’s history.
