The Ohio STEM event at COSI was really eye-opening. Seeing STEM initiatives in research is informative and it gave me an understanding of the scope of the programs around the country, but the experience of seeing all of Ohio's initiatives really put the number of initiative names on a computer screen into perspective. STEM education is not improved by these initiatives alone, and the Ohio STEM convention illustrated that the people who make up those initiatives are the true energy and the true passion driving Ohio’s STEM education forward.
For those of you who have not visited the COSI building - it's huge. Governor Strickland gave a speech in a conference room that could hold at least three private jets. The entire first floor lobby (just about as big as the assembly room) was used by the convention to display posters and computers detailing tons of programs all across Ohio. In the middle of the displays were all kinds of projects that students of the various initiatives had created, such as LEGO robots designed to skitter away as a simulation of a frightened animal. Most of the programs I had heard of, such as the Ohio Design Challenge project, and (of course) OSLN, but the sheer amount of people ready and willing to take up the STEM education cause was truly remarkable.
Governor Strickland and his coalition of university and local school district leaders announced a renewed state vigor to increase the quality and number of Ohio STEM teachers for the primary and secondary classrooms. The partners in education all converging on one stage highlighted the efficiency and accomplishment of all of the STEM collaborators there, and also highlighted the fact that STEM education movements have so many resources, both in communication and funding, that Ohio can only continue to pave the way for innovative thinking.
It just goes to show that you can read all the press releases, news updates, and program descriptions to understand the need for STEM, but only at a function like Ohio STEM can you understand the impact of better STEM education, and the number of people – from the powerful to the ordinary – that are dedicated to improving the education of students for years to come.
