It’s Full STEAM Ahead

Millersville students and faculty have brought a baker and a retired police officer into Lancaster’s Carter & MacRae Elementary School (C&M) to teach students about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

This semester, Dr. Sharon Brusic, applied engineering, safety & technology associate professor, has been working with C&M fifth-grade teacher, Bob Slamp, to lead the after-school program, STEAM Seekers. Students from Brusic’s course, UNIV 103 Learning by Doing, volunteer at STEAM Seekers with fourth-grade and fifth-grade students every Wednesday.

“The project is the brainchild of business leader, Myke Rogers, who envisioned the School District of Lancaster, Millersville, and representatives from the Lancaster business community to work together to instruct and inspire District students on project design problems, critical thinking and creativity,” said Dr. Cheryl Desmond, professor emerita of educational foundations and leadership for teaching and learning at Millersville.

This is the first semester for STEAM Seekers with eight different one-hour sessions under the supervision of Brusic and Slamp. Each session includes University students interacting with the C&M pupils to teach them about STEAM.

“When Matt Johnson, a baker at Whistlestop Café, visited the students, they designed and built mock-ups of devices that the baker could use to solve a problem he had with getting small rolls from his massive 12-foot deep oven,” said Brusic. Retired police officer Salvatore Messina challenged students to design and print a T-shirt that promotes respect for police officers and improve the community’s appreciation for police officers.

“This collaboration shows how interesting and creative things happen when community members work together on a cause. One of the underlying motives behind the program is to help children recognize that there are many pathways to careers,” said Brusic.

Barry Kornhauser, assistant director of campus & community engagement at Millersville, is working on plans to extend the STEAM Seekers program this spring with some new collaborators.