EWMS students build STEM skills in engineering class

By: 
Kate Wehlann, Staff Writer
How many middle school kids get to build robots at school?
Students enrolled in Anna Marie Endris’s engineering and technology class are getting to do just that, combining knowledge of engineering, basic physics and coding together to create robot cars and other projects.
“For the last couple of years I have been adding the engineering design process to my general science classes through different design challenges and activities using the steps of the process,” said Endris. “We also started pulling in some coding with Code.org and Scratch. My principal, [Amber] King, knew I was interested in teaching this on a grander scale and worked out our schedule so sixth grade could have a period of engineering/technology. After learning this, I asked Mrs. King and Mr. Stockdale if I could attend a Project Lead the Way summer training. They both agreed and here we are! I am now teaching Automation and Robotics and a course called Computer Science for Innovators and Makers.”
And it’s not just kids playing around with wires and plastic robot parts — the class offers students a combination of both hard and soft skills crucial for the job market one day.
“Students are learning problem solving and critical thinking skills,” said Endris. “They are using communication and collaboration as most of these projects are accomplished in teams. They are learning that sometimes things won’t work the first time, and it takes perseverance and determination to follow through to the end. They are also learning different coding languages and the basic vocabulary of coding that will help them to learn more difficult languages.”
Watch for the full story in an upcoming edition of the paper.

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