Originally published on 2/6/2020
STEM occupations are growing at an astounding rate. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the US economy. Alvin ISD feels the need to invest in STEM education to make sure the children in our community are ready to join the STEM-competitive workforce in the future.
That’s why plans are in the works for a mobile STEM lab called the Alvin ISD STEM Explorer. The STEM Explorer will help bring engaging, innovative, and interactive STEM Education to our schools and near our students’ homes.
“The STEM Explorer will be the second mobile learning program implemented in Alvin ISD,” shared Ana Pasarella, Director of Family and Community Engagement for Alvin ISD. “ With the overwhelming success of the Alvin ISD Book Bus, we believe the STEM Explorer will not only bring innovative teaching and learning to Alvin ISD students, but it will also promote STEM education in the state of Texas.”
In the true vision of STEM education, Alvin ISD is reaching out to local, state, and national organizations and corporations in the STEM field to sponsor and support the design and build out of the STEM Explorer.
“To date, we have received monetary sponsorships from the Alvin Sunrise Rotary Club, Schlumberger, Imagine Learning, the Alvin ISD Education Foundation, and GPD Group Employee Foundation, and we are in conversation with various organizations in the health, engineering, and gas and oil field,” Pasarella said. “We are looking into many different avenues to make this dream a reality.”
While no date has been determined for when the STEM Explorer will be ready and available, the Alvin ISD STEM Department has a team of teachers and curriculum coordinators working on the development of a STEM centered curriculum to ensure the final product is an innovative mobile lab with the most up-to-date equipment and resources necessary for students to engage in the STEM learning process.
Through the STEM Explorer, Alvin ISD students will experience a carefully constructed, research-based, integrated approach to teaching and learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. All the resources and lessons provided while the students visit the STEM Explorer will be centered on developing the necessary skills for students to become 21st century learners and productive members of our community.
For more information on the STEM Explorer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.alvinisd.net/stemexplorer.