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STEAM education is vital to our future - a local Westwood teen takes on the challenge
In 2016 State of the Union Address, President Obama announced a computer-science-for-all initiative. The President’s 2017 budget mentions that there are currently more than 600,000 high-paying tech jobs open across the United States, and by 2020, 51 percent of all STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) jobs are projected to be in computer science-related fields. More than two third of all the tech jobs are outside the tech sector and in other industries - like transportation, health care, education, and financial services - that are using software to transform their products and services. Art education can also encourage innovation and economic growth in the United States.
It stands to reason, then, that STEAM education is vital to our future and our children’s future.
Westwood school district has a long history of academy excellence. In 2012, Westwood High School was named one of the 38 high schools in the country to be identified as “Exemplary High Performing” Blue Ribbon School. In order to maintain its high academy performance, the community must promote STEAM education.
A Westwood High School student, Larry takes on that challenge. He has taught Programming and Robotics, and Web Design classes at the Westwood Enrichment Program this summer. The YA Advance Program Coordinator, Ms. Deb Peterson, comments that it is a new experience for the students to learn from an instructor who is of their same age group.
The feedback from the students in Larry’s summer enrichment classes has been positive. Kids like to learn from young adults who know the new technologies and high tech trends.
After the Westwood Summer Enrichment teaching experience, Larry thought about how to make the STEAM education available to more students in the Westwood and neighboring towns. He suggested to have a STEAM after school program in Westwood High School so the kids could explore their interests in the STEAM field.
With the support of Westwood School District, the Westwood STEAM program is off to a good start. Larry took the initiative to spearhead the website design, and programmed www.ussteam.org by himself. Karan, a Westwood parent, comments that the website is professionally done and she can’t imagine it has been fabricated by a teenager.
Larry intends to teach Web Design for the STEAM program. He hopes the program can provide opportunities for the kids around Westwood to improve their STEAM skills and academic performance. The program can also provide opportunities for high school students to give back to the community and help younger students.
Many parents from Westwood and neighboring towns are very supportive to the program. They are happy that Westwood finally has its own STEAM program, and that they don’t need to send their kids to far-flung locales for classes.
For more information or to comment, visit www.ussteam.org.
