The WVU STEAM Technical Assistance Center, which is housed within the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative, is expanding its impact across the Mountain State with a new initiative focused on bringing engineering and aerospace education to high school classrooms.
The SpacePrep Program introduces high school students to opportunities and careers in aerospace and engineering through immersive, hands-on learning activities. During this lesson, students learn about aerospace companies in West Virginia, engage with models of simple circuits and electrical systems and create a simple bot that works by using vibrational energy to satisfy a series of design challenges.
Students gain foundational skills in engineering, problem solving, and creativity as they build, test and modify their bots. Classroom immersions are led by STEAM TAC specialists, educators with decades of experience leading STEAM lessons.
“Our team of STEAM specialists do a fantastic job at creating an atmosphere of creativity and curiosity where students are encouraged to learn through trial and error,” Eric Lemley, STEAM TAC program director, said. “As the aerospace industry continues to expand in West Virginia, we are excited to introduce students to the pathways and opportunities available to them after they graduate.”
SpacePrep curriculum will be offered alongside the STEAM TAC’s existing classroom immersions in science, technology, art and mathematics. Those immersions have integrated learning, creativity and collaboration into engaging activities for over 50,000 students in grades 5-12 across all West Virginia counties since 2022.
The STEAM TAC’s SpacePrep Program is in service of a multi-state partnership aimed at strengthening the aerospace workforce pipeline in Appalachia through $3.9 million in grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies program.
Donna Holyman Peduto, executive director of the WVPEC, said it is the partnerships with educators and organizations that enable the STEAM TAC to continue to develop programs that empower students and bridge the gaps in access and opportunity.
“The addition of SpacePrep into our lineup of classroom immersions will offer new, engaging ways to bring creativity, critical thinking and career readiness to students, while also addressing the economic needs of the region,” Peduto said.
The first SpacePrep classroom immersion is set to launch April 8-9 for students at Paw Paw High School in Morgan County.