Science & Engineering Programs Seek More Middle School Students and Girls

The interdisciplinary Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program in the Wauwatosa School District is looking to attract more students, but not just any students.

Specifically, both the in-school curriculum program and the after-school clubs want to include more:

• sixth graders
• seventh graders
• girls

Jerry Merz, a parent volunteer active in the Project Lead the Way Club — an extracurricular counterpart to STEM — told the School Board this week that a lack of girls might have hampered the club at a recent regional competition, where the top two teams were comprised mainly of girls.

He said girls are generally better organized and shine at presenting projects, while boys tend to focus on technical and labor aspects.

Among the other possible changes in store for the STEM program:

• The student learning/curriculum staff is planning on using the STEM goals and materials as a guide during the district's upcoming science curriculum study, and also wants to expand the STEM offerings to include more sixth and seventh graders. 
• Students have demonstrated greater interest in aeronautics or aerospace engineering, and less in other disciplines, such as civil engineering. Because of that, the district plans an aerospace program next year.
• Bill Anderson, supervisor of student learning for the district, is examining ways to integrate biotechnology programming, hopefully through a partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin. 
• The STEM program is seeking a Rapid Prototyping Grant for $3,000 to purchase two plastic modeling machines. These machines will allow students to "print in 3-D" by taking CAD drawings and having small plastic models made.

Superintendent Phil Ertl told the board that the best way they could support the STEM program would be to adopt spending requests for it and to recognize that the recreation department might have to refocus its goals to make this program more accessible.