Mount St. Mary’s University hosted three STEM Power Days in September, October, and November where area K-6 students were invited to explore different STEM projects in a newly-renovated classroom learning space housed in Coad science building at the School of Science, Mathematics, and Technology.
The STEM Power Days were organized and led by Assistant Professor of Math and Computer Science Matthew Gehert, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Math and Computer Science Jonelle Hook, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Math and Computer Science Ruth Lamprecht, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Biology Rachel Hartnett, Ph.D. Additional STEM faculty supported each Saturday event and taught individuals and groups of students.
As part of Hook, Lamprecht, and Hartnett’s Clare Boothe Luce grant award for scholarships, the university’s freed-up funds were allocated to three categories: training and mentorship for STEM faculty, changes to the curriculum of MATH 211and CHEM 100, and a STEM outreach program for elementary school students—the STEM Power Days.
On Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to noon, 42 students from 23 families were excited to code robots that sat lifelessly waiting on worktables. Students worked in pairs or triples with a laptop and a robot. Along the way, the students learned the logic and wrote code to make the robots move, light up, and accomplish simple tasks. Later, students and their families also enjoyed snacks and a chance to show off what their robots could accomplish.
Amanda, a high school teacher, and her son Riley learned about the event from Hook, a friend. Riley’s in sixth grade in Frederick County and he’s interested in STEM. “It’s great to try out something different; he was excited and he’s been having a good time,” she said. “There are so many opportunities available—and it’s important that kids find out what they are interested in,” she added.
Min, a scientist at a medical company, and his son Max, learned about the event from their school. “My father was a physics teacher, so this kind of hands-on experience for my son is important for his growth—especially with a future in AI learning,” Min said. “The earlier you expose it to them, the better.”
While robots zoomed along the floor, glowing blue and purple, weaving between feet and table legs, one five-and-a-half-year-old homeschool student named Anneke sat patiently at her laptop listening to Dean of the School of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Christine McCauslin, Ph.D., while working to program her robot. When asked what brought her to the event, she replied, “A car, silly.” When asked what she wants her career to be she did not hesitate a moment: “I want to be a mommy who makes robots.” Her father, Charles, who reviews medical devices for the Food and Drug Administration, said the event was a good learning activity.
At a nearby table, six-year-old Penélope was making good progress alongside Monsignor Tinder Endowed Professor and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Sarah Krueger, Ph.D. Penelope wants to be a teacher and likes to play with robots. “I’ll make this robot spin around,” she said as she smiled. “Watch!” Her father, David, who works at Utz and whose background is in supply chain and AI data research, said: “Events like this help build curiosity and interests.” He knows Mike Rice, C’66, whose grandparents, Bill and Salie Utz, began making and selling their potato chips in 1921.
On October 25 from 10 a.m. to noon, 41 students from 26 families worked with 3-D printers to create simple souvenirs with personalization.
Students were watching 3-D printers work their magic. There was lots of excitement in the air as parents helped themselves to coffee and watched their kids anxiously await creating their own 3-D printed works.
Lindsey, the mom of a fourth grader named Riley, said this was her first experience with the Mount. Her daughter is homeschooled and said it’s sometimes hard to find age-appropriate activities for kids. “This has been a wonderful event,” she says. “Riley has loved foxes and has researched them starting at a young age.” Riley says she wants to make a fox and a snowman. “Foxes are adorable in all ways; they’re really cool creatures.”
Another girl, Samantha, also a fourth grader, said, “Then you should be a vet!” as she looked through the options on the screen and in her handout. “It’s amazing what technology can do. And I want to be a vet because I love animals,” she added. Together they worked on their tangram silhouettes.
Students and families who attended received lunch vouchers and were invited to have lunch in Patriot Hall after the event.
On November 22 from 10 a.m. to noon, 25 students worked with the Zome Tool manipulatives in groups or individually to make math touchable.
Parent Heidi (Van Valkenburg) Moyer, C’13, studied history at the Mount and has worked in various public libraries. She was at the event with her sister-in-law, Liz Moyer, C’14, also a Mount grad who studied psychology. Their children were having fun.
At a nearby table, Richard, a five year old, is learning about tessellations with Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Chair of the Department of Science Mike Turner, Ph.D. Richard laments: “Sometimes math can be hard. Then I like to go play at the park.”
Rishi, another five-year-old student sitting beside him, comments: “Nothing is hard for me. I use guesses, and if my mom says ‘no,’ I keep trying.” He’s working to fill the gaps in his design. Reaching for a blue rhombus he says: “Those skinny ones are the best!” When asked what he may want to do for work in the future he believes delivering the mail and working at the post office would be cool. Then he says his dad is going to teach him Spanish and Hindi, unaware Dr. Turner speaks Polish. The two of them start exchanging words and phrases as he tiles away.
Sophia, a first grader who says she wants to own a hair salon one day, is answering Adjunct Faculty in the Science Department Russ Krueger’s questions like a pro. She’s looking at prisms. “Eight vertices. Six faces. Twelve edges.” While she pauses to consider the shape of the base, she says: “I’m not sure how to use math at the salon, but I am sure I like to ride my bike for fun.” Her mom, Rebecca, a graduate of the class of 2013, studied math and her dad, Michael, C’13, studied computer science at the Mount. “Sophia loves math!”
Sophia later moves to another learning station and gets paired with Gabrielle Stine, C’27, a current Mount junior and one of the Clare Boothe Luce scholarship winners. The two have a lot to talk about. Stine has volunteered her time to share it with these young learners on a Saturday morning. She majors in mathematics with minors in data science, Spanish, and accounting.
“I came here to the Mount because of the ideologies here. The campus is beautiful, and the programs for accounting and mathematics were very good. [My time at the Mount] has been a great experience. I’ve been able to get involved and truly be part of a community.”
Next year’s STEM Power days will continue engaging young learners and share program outcomes with faculty to expand STEM Power Days to other disciplines, encouraging departments to run parallel events. The events will also involve student clubs to provide undergraduates with hands-on experience, boosting retention and confidence in discussing STEM topics.
STEM Power Days were well attended, and sparked additional interest, by members of Vida Charter School, located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which opened the door for potential partnerships—a welcomed outcome of these hands-on learning events.