Library program merges art and science
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ESCANABA -- Students in grades fourth through sixth explored the wonders of technology during the Escanaba Public Library's technology portion of the STEAM program Tuesday afternoon. STEAM is an acronym for "Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics."
The "STEAM team" took apart old computer towers and reassembled them to create robots or "wiggle bots" during the session. The wiggle bots consisted of a battery component for its body from the tower, along with the tower's electrical wires to create legs.
According to Jean Montgomgery, instructor of Tuesday's session, giving students an opportunity to deconstruct and re-create something from "nothing" allows them to put their thinking caps on and learn how technology works. Montgomery is also the network administrator for all public libraries in the Upper Peninsula.
"I think we're in a society where if something doesn't work we throw it away," she said, adding the class allowed the students to re-think this concept and if something doesn't work, they should explore what is wrong rather than just giving up.
Montgomery explained when computers at the libraries she works for quit working, they are taken to her. Instead of getting rid of the old computer towers, she decided do something fun with them and show kids the inner workings of the technology they use almost every day. Tuesday's class was the sixth one Montgomery has taught in other libraries where students created pieces of jewelry from computer wires, adding every session the students seem to have fun.
"Everyone seems to enjoy it," she said.
STEAM team member and fourth grade student Hannah Schwalbach said her favorite part of the session was taking out the mother board from the computer.
"It was fun taking out all the screws," she said, adding there were more parts to the computer than she anticipated.
The next session of STEAM will be Tuesday, March 14, and will focus on aerodynamics and paper airplanes. To reserve a spot in class, contact the library at 789-7328. STEAM is sponsored by the Friends of the Escanaba Public Library, with assistance from Superiorland Library Cooperative, Civil Air Patrol, and the Bay College STEM Club.