Students at Hommocks Middle School Co-op Camp just completed a new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiative that threw an arts aspect into the mix.
STEM became STEAM as the students worked on art projects that added electronics and computer CAD programs and 3-D printing to their creativity.
The Mamaroneck Union Free School District in partnership with MakerEd and the STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck came up with the program. MakerEd choose to place in the school two mentors—one of whom, Caroline Carney, is a Mamaroneck High School graduate—to help guide the students through combining art and technology.
Michelle Burton, an art teacher at Central Elementary School, served as an advisor. She was amazed at some the new technology the students could use.
Burton said creativity is creativity, no matter what medium you use.
"For me, (the new technology) really was just another component in my tool box," she said.
Among the interdisciplinary projects the students worked on were writing computer games, making electronic game controllers and designing items and printing them out via a 3-D printer.
Kevin Santos, 12, who will be entering seventh grade in the fall at Hommocks Middle School, said he can't wait until next summer to do the camp again.
The Mamaroneck resident said he enjoyed creating a video game and putting it on line.
"I also liked that what we made could be printed out," Santos said.
(Video caption: Scenes from the Hommocks Middle School Co-op Camp. Credit: Michael Woyton.)
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