KEYPORT, Wash. –
The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility STEM Outreach Team collaborated with Naval Undersea Warfare Center-Keyport, the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum and the Puget Sound Navy Museum to conduct another successful multi-day “Navy STEM Days” event at the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum, March 19-21.
The three-day event allowed 250 fifth grade students from four local middle schools to learn about robotics, machines, astronomy, and the undersea navy through four interactive workshops.
From navigating remote operated vehicles in a pool, to engaging in a scavenger hunt throughout the museum, the students were able to stretch their learning muscles in an interactive environment.
“We’ve had ten years to fine tune this program,” said Valerie Johnson, education specialist, U.S. Naval Undersea Museum. “By listening to feedback from students and teachers we have refined how we present information and created an engaging experience for the students.”
STEM Day events have become a varied experience that incorporate a variety of learning styles to help participants understand science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For this STEM event, students in one workshop learned the difference between a robot and a machine through interactive exploration, as they worked in teams, pairs and independently.
Pair that with the group project the schools did beforehand to prepare the ROVs for the pool, and the variety of activities make the lessons more accessible to all students.
“When educational programming is limited to certain avenues of delivery, like a lecture, it's likely only going to capture the portion of an audience already primed to receive information in that way,” Johnson said. “With multiple avenues of learning available through a variety of delivery styles, we're more likely to engage a broader spectrum of students.”
While the recent event was huge for the children involved, additional events are planned throughout April and May. Shipyard volunteers are still needed to help give students exposure to these critical areas of learning.
“The success of the STEM program is attributed to the collective strength of our internal command personnel and external partnerships,” said Erin Guizzetti, STEM outreach coordinator, PSNS & IMF STEM. “We are always looking for new mentors to join. No experience is needed to participate. In fact, volunteering with STEM provides opportunities to gain experience in leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and a shared commitment to the success of our future workforce.”
Volunteers needed for upcoming events
There will be more opportunities to get involved as a STEM outreach volunteer in the near future:
April 23, 9:45 a.m.-1 p.m.: 4th grade STEM Days at the Puget Sound Navy Museum, in Bremerton
April 24, 9: 45 a.m.-1 p.m.: 4th grade STEM Days at the Puget Sound Navy Museum, in Bremerton
April 25, 45 a.m.-1 p.m.: 4th grade STEM Days at the Puget Sound Navy Museum, in Bremerton
May 9, 11:50 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Classrooms: Magic Sand at Barker Creek Community School, in Bremerton
Command employees interested in volunteering should call 360-340-5980 or 360-340-6727, or email usn.kitsap. navshipydimfpgswa.mbx.psns-imf-stem@us.navy.mil.