McCullough Academy Encourages STEM through a Distinctive Project Based Learning Experience

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 11, 2021

McCullough Academy Encourages STEM through a Distinctive Project Based Learning Experience

(Gary, IND) – Recently, students at Frankie Woods McCullough Academy created amazing replicas of technology pieces through a unique project-based learning (PBL) experience. The assignment was titled “inputs and outputs” and students were challenged to build something while explaining how it is used as an input or output source in the world.

Students creatively built phones, vending machines, computers and more out of every day products from home and displayed their projects in the library for the entire school to admire.

Projects like these are considered important 21^st century skills; enhancing the critical thinking and “realia”, real life scenarios, as teaching aids. It helps students see the lesson outside of a graded assignment and engages them in preparation for real life.

Computer science teacher, Kitty Derrick spearheaded the project.

“These are devices that they use all the time,” said Derrick “While trying to explain how computers work, I thought it would be a great learning opportunity where art and creativity meet technology.”

McCullough Academy offers a number of PBL opportunities for students as they progress in their coding skills as part of the STEM initiatives at the elementary level. Scholars at McCullough Academy have been exposed to a number of robotic projects in partnership with the Boy Scouts Academy. The partnerships and volunteer opportunities for community organizations continues to grow as the Gary Schools push to make three of their schools STEM certified in the state of Indiana.

For more information or to enroll your child, visit www.garyschools.org.