New Discoveries
STEM Discovery Lab Opens on Campus
By Addison E. Paul
OPENING ON THE first floor of the David L. Rice Library, the University of Southern Indiana's new STEM Discovery Lab will attract busloads of kindergarten through eighth-grade students to campus for hands-on learning. USI's Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center (SwISTEM) manages the space, overseeing a catalog of specialized teaching tools and lesson-based science, technology, engineering and math activities.
Building on the University's strong foundation of K-8 programming, the lab helps elevate field trips for regional elementary and middle schools, adapts into a flexible classroom space and serves as an on-campus educational resource.
"When we were dreaming this up, we were getting targeted feedback from teachers about what would make this experience exceptional for the kids coming to campus," said Dr. Allison Grabert, Director of SwISTEM. "This was a way that we could bring them to USI early in their education and tie in real-world applications for STEM."
Last spring, the University welcomed Evan Rebar, STEM Curriculum Development and Outreach Specialist, to design and lead lessons for the lab. Rebar doesn't have to hypothesize about meeting Indiana STEM standards; he already has first-hand experience. After teaching middle school math and science for over 10 years, he knows the ins and outs of state education requirements, engaging students in complex subjects and navigating classroom limitations.
"It was really interesting to get in on the ground floor and develop this, especially for kids who don't have as many field trip opportunities. I kept asking myself, 'How can we evolve this from a classroom space?' and 'How can we make this more fun?'"
- Evan Rebar
FUNDING
$200,000
CenterPoint Energy Foundation
$50,000
Alcoa Foundation
Additional funding support was provided by READI 2.0 and private donors.
FEATURES
4 Wall-Mounted Monitors + 2 Touchscreens
40-person capacity
1000+ teaching tools
20 K-8th Grade Lessons and Activities
PARTNERSHIPS
National Environmental Education Foundation
Naval Surface Warfare Crane Division
The STEM Discovery Lab has already piloted several successful field trips, including a trial lesson teaching third-graders about perimeter and area by having them design holes for a mini golf course. In just a year, Rebar has spent countless hours drafting lessons, testing activities and making trips to the hardware store, but this is only the beginning. From building earthquake shake tables to working with USI's Center for Applied Research on an augmented reality (AR) sandbox, Rebar brings a go-getter mentality to his new role.
Projected to host over 1,500 K-8 students annually, the lab makes cost-prohibitive and technical teaching tools accessible for kids. Equipment like versatile PocketLab sensors, Vernier LabQuest interfaces and a variety of scientific samples, models and demonstration kits will help bring concepts to life and inspire visiting students to engage with STEM fields.
"We're part of the very front end of this cradle to career model that the University is working to develop. We're showing kids that if they want to pursue a STEM degree or career in this area, there's a place for them."
- Dr. Allison Grabert
