USI to host Open House for STEM Discovery Lab
Inviting Educators and Families to Explore Hands-On Learning Space
The University of Southern Indiana's Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center will host an open house for its STEM Discovery Lab powered by CenterPoint Energy Foundation from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 26, giving educators, families and community members an inside look at the hands-on learning space and the field trip experiences it offers.
The STEM Discovery Lab, located in the David L. Rice Library on USI's campus, opened as a resource for K-8 field trips, offering guided 60-to-90-minute sessions for groups of up to 80 students. The lab gives students hands-on access to tools such as sensors, an augmented reality sandbox and interactive models, extending classroom learning through immersive, curriculum-aligned lessons ranging from coding robots to genetics.
The open house is free and open to the public, with no registration required. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the lab and technology, browse field trip lesson materials and discuss field trip options.
Since opening, the STEM Discovery Lab has welcomed school groups for guided sessions that pair classroom-aligned lessons with real tools and technology. Educators can also add a self-guided campus tour, a nature walk along the USI-Burdette Trail or a sack lunch on campus to extend their visit. Field trips are $5 per student and require at least three weeks' advance notice to book.
The STEM Discovery Lab powered by CenterPoint Energy Foundation was also made possible by donations from Alcoa Foundation, Robert and Paulette Roeske Reid and READI 2.0 funding.
For more information about the STEM Discovery Lab or to explore the lesson catalog, visit USI.edu/stemdiscoverylab or contact Evan Rebar, Curriculum and Outreach Specialist, at emrebar@usi.edu.