academics to real-world tasks, helping students explore career paths and acquire useful skills such as critical thinking and teamwork.
“ The goal of a STEAM TAC immersion is not to achieve a correct answer or outcome but rather to find multiple levels of success through application and iteration,” says Dr. Jen Robertson-Honecker, West Virginia University Extension associate professor and STEAM TAC faculty liaison.
To ensure challenges reflect the state’ s needs, STEAM TAC works with industry professionals and subject matter experts to align tasks with real-world issues. The program also incorporates student feedback and observations to refine and improve immersions.
“ The chosen tasks engage students quickly, allow them to achieve success at multiple levels, encourage iteration and refinement and can be replicated by classroom teachers,” Robertson-Honecker says.
To encourage students to think about their future careers, STEAM TAC works activities into immersions that help them understand the different tasks within specific industry roles. While performing computer science or coding immersions, students may take on the role of software developer or
project manager, providing an example of the different jobs one may have in a career path.
“ Students are immersed in real-world environments that put them in driver software developer and navigator project manager roles throughout the activities,” Robertson-Honecker says.“ Similar models are used to introduce students to a wide variety of industry roles in each of our immersions.”
After classroom immersions, teachers are left with some equipment used in the lesson as well as lesson extensions that allow them to build on the immersion further. This ensures that educators can continue promoting the important concepts taught through STEAM outside of the program.
Farms Work Wonders is also introducing young people in the state to
Photo by WVU STEAM TAC. real-world opportunities through its Junior Crew program, a paid opportunity for residents ages 16-21 who are given the chance to contribute to one of the organization’ s departments.
Jason Smith, managing director at Farms Work Wonders, says youth are encouraged to explore any area they would like through Junior Crew, such as the bakery, market, glass studio or farm, until they find something they enjoy.
“ Junior Crew members aren’ t just employees— they’ re
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