Students are “chugging” up to the third floor math wing to learn, play, and tinker in the new STEAM lab.  The Team STEAM Club offers a unique space where students can meet to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, all in one place. The club offers students an opportunity to imagine, create, innovate, and play .

Sandra Locher, math teacher and founder of Regina’s STEAM lab, said she wanted a space to “expose girls to careers with STEAM fields.” She also says, “The lab will provide a place with hands on opportunities and get them hooked.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Commerce, employment in professional, scientific, and technical services is projected to grow by 29%, adding about 2.1 million new jobs between 2010 and 2020. With that said, STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17% in the next few years with the added bonus of workers commanding earnings approximately 26% more in pay than any other field.

The STEAM lab is broken into several centers that offer a variety of ways for students to think outside the box. There is the by-far favorite
3-D printer, the popular 3D pen, programs to learn coding, robotics, lego mosaics, a little bit of electrical circuitry, as well as design and construction.

Over the course of the upcoming year, Locher and her club will construct mazes for the sphero robotic balls and create 3-D pins to hand out during Open Houses. Students will also work on projects designing and constructing a little village using computer programming and the 3-D printer.  Students additionally will be exposed to guest speakers, electronic music opportunities using Garage Band, and whatever else they can think of.

Allie Svachula, ’17 has already decided she will study engineering in college. Svachula said, “I really want to go into engineering and affect the future. I think the 3D Printer is really cool because you get to manipulate the technology to make what you want.”

The goal of the STEAM Club this year is to get the girls excited about STEAM careers and let them go off on their own to experiment with a variety of tools. The club is student-directed and student-centered and a perfect maker-space for students of all levels to create.

The long term vision of STEAM Locher said “is to integrate the program into the school curriculum beyond science and math.”

The club meets after school on Monday and Thursday and during most days during lunch. Any student interested in joining the club should see Mrs. Locher. Any adult in the Regina community interested in speaking to STEAM members or helping in some way, may contact Locher at slocher@rdhs.org. Co-moderators of the STEAM club are Ken Finder, Science department, and Kate Houston, English department.