Sixth grade teacher Evan James was recently awarded $3,915 from the Georgetown Island Education Fund to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math curriculum at Georgetown Central School.
A two-time winner, last year James used a grant from GIEF to launch an inquiry-evidence based learning program using wireless technology and robotics platforms.
Through this program, James said, “students gained experience in laboratory-based research, project planning, experimentation, problem solving, design, modeling, testing, evaluation, documentation, and presentation related to engineering and science.”
It also gave students research opportunities in the natural science and engineering fields and honed students’ investigative skills, he said.
This year’s grant will support and expand existing curriculum, with student projects to build wind turbine models, continue robotics studies and spark students’ interest in computer programming.
Students in James’s class next year will enter in an international wind turbine competition, compete in First Lego League and experiment with Raspberry Pi, a low-cost computer the size of a credit card, said James.
The use of data collection technology can provide a learning advantage to students, said James, as evidenced in student test scores in science.
The overall goal of these projects, he said, is “to increase the number of Georgetown students pursuing science and engineering avenues in middle school, high school and college,” and also broaden Maine’s skilled workforce in these fields.
“Mr. James’s grant application rose to the top based on his criteria of incorporating STEM practices into his curriculum,” said Michele Melanson, a member of GIEF. “He also added a free afterschool program this past year called ‘The Geek Squad’ so that every age group can be involved in the STEM learning process at GCS.”
GIEF is an organization that supports the educational experience of Georgetown students by funding programs and providing resources for projects in the areas of literacy and the arts as well as STEM curriculum.
GIEF will be hosting a fundraiser cocktail party from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, at the Fore & Aft Art Gallery located at 37 Bay Point Road, Georgetown.
Described as a celebration of local food, beer, wine and art, admission to the event is $25 and will go to support GIEF programs. For more information visit www.giefme.org.
rgargiulo@timesrecord.com
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