Thanks to a partnership with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF) and Trane Technologies, Dorothy J. Vaughan Academy of Technology at Parkside has a new STEM lab for students to be innovative and creative when it comes to all things science, technology, engineering and math. A ribbon cutting for the lab was held on Nov. 20, and students had a chance to explore the stations, use the technology and put their imaginations to work.

“This is just another opportunity for all of our students to have a hands-on learning experience with science, technology and math, and  bring their core curriculum to life,” said Principal Brenda Mills.

Qiana Robinson, STEM coordinator, and Scott Woodard, K-5 STEM lab teacher, said the school has been working with CRSF and Trane Technologies since the summer. They’re happy to see everything come to fruition and see students get excited about the new technology.

“Tomorrow’s jobs have not been thought up yet,” said Robinson. “So, giving them an opportunity to create and play gives them a great opportunity to see what’s coming.”

“It’s amazing seeing the classroom and the kids excited to experience more things and be interested in STEM,” said Woodard. “They’re always ready to learn and understand their STEM education is going to help them when they get older. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and Trane Technologies are absolutely amazing for providing all of this equipment and giving our students an opportunity to really start growing.”

As students moved from station to station, interacted and collaborated with one another on their activities, Mills called the noise in the lab “prepared for the future.”

“With computer science and the ways that we’re going with [artificial intelligence] and all things technology, this is a way for them to see how to, one, use technology, and then how to use it in a safe manner and how to be creative with it,” said Mills. “Some of the things you see out in the world, or on TV, now you understand what that programming looks like and how it ties back to your curriculum, being a reader, being a writer or a mathematician. It brings all those things together.”