Pine-Richland Odyssey of the Mind team members( left to right): Ryan Scott, Damian Ivanov, Ethan Priore, Gabi Boudreau, Avyu Nagrath, Nicolai Ezolt and Mia Tucciarone.
‘ maker space’ where kids could get together to learn and have fun.”
The center opened in April and offers a full variety of engineering, science and technology classes, including 3D printing, circuitry, animation, robotics and coding. Classes are available for children ages four through high school and are taught by the Ezolts and other local industry professionals. Small class sizes ensure hands-on learning for every student, and classes are available for children with special needs.
“ As an adjunct professor, I was teaching adults of all ages. This is quite different,” she says with a laugh.“ I really like working with this age group— their brains are like little sponges.”
STEAM Studio, Ezolt says, helps kids balance“ old-school” methods of learning with new technology.
“ Technology is part of learning today— there’ s no way around that. But when we get all of these kids together in the same room, laughing and learning together for a few hours, we see how they can work together to solve problems using technology,” she says.“ It’ s a great way to balance the old with the new. Kids simply learn more when they’ re working together.”
STEAM Studio is located at 306 Warrendale Road in Wexford. For more information, visit thesteamstudio. com or call 724.370.3700. ■
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