Students took more than just “steps” toward their future careers when they recently visited WNY P-TECH in Dunkirk. They also crawled and took flight with the help of Legos and drones.
SUNY Fredonia returned to WNY P-TECH for Summer STEP — Science and Technology Entry Program. About two dozen students from Gowanda, Westfield, and Dunkirk schools participated in several team-building activities for a week.
According to SUNY Fredonia, STEP aims to prepare students in grades 7-12 to enter college and improve their participation in mathematics, science, technology, health-related fields, and licensed professions. Funding for STEP across New York comes from the state Department of Education.
Danielle O’Connor, director of STEP at SUNY Fredonia, said the yearlong program also supports and encourages students to enter STEM-related fields through college or by directly entering the workforce.
“We know that in the field of STEM, there are good-paying jobs,” O’Connor said. “Our goal is to look at children who have an interest or desire to pursue a STEM career and give them opportunities at school that they may not otherwise have.”
At Fredonia, STEP kicks off with a summer program in August and progresses into the new school year. The program also offers field trips, manufacturing tours, tutoring, and SAT/ACT preparation opportunities.
“They’re exposed to things they typically wouldn’t experience at school,” O’Connor said. “They have time to be curious and experiment with different things and see what works and what doesn’t work. They also have the opportunity to form friendships with other students who share the same interests.”
For a week at WNY P-TECH, students participated in several mathematics, science, and technology-related activities. They experimented with bubbles with the help of science teacher Julie Sek; built and operated robotic cars with math/technology teacher Matt Edwards; wrote fan fiction using Google Docs with English teacher Jason Tracy; and played badminton with physical education teacher Dan Snyder, among other activities.
Evelyn John, an 11-year-old from Gowanda Central School, said she enjoyed the technology component of STEP. In Edwards’ class, she learned about robotics and coding utilizing Lego blocks.
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of the stuff we’ve done here, but I really like building things, so that was the most fun for me,” John said.
Later in the week, students learned to control miniature drones and participated in an obstacle course.
O’Connor called WNY P-TECH a “gem for Western New York.”
“There are jobs available in our area around manufacturing, and this is a targeted program for students who have a curiosity and the skills to go into a STEM career,” she said. “I really think this economically supports our region.”
WNY P-TECH offers a project-based, differentiated learning structure with specialized educators working in tandem with higher education, business partners, and public school districts. Students work to earn New York state Regents diplomas and A.A.S. degrees in Welding Technology, Mechanical Technology with specializations in CADD or machine tool, or Mechatronics from SUNY Jamestown Community College.