Middle school students work with STEAM Institute

On Jan. 10, all seventh grade students took a trip to the Kirkwood Washington Regional Center to participate in the STEAM Institute.

The STEAM Institute was developed 11 years ago as a collaboration with University of Iowa Health Care and Workplace Learning Connection to provide interactive experiences with a heavy STEM focus. The program provides an engaging platform to start the conversation about career self-discovery.

Prior to attending, students watched ‘Find Your Spark!’ a video by Kathleen Andersen from the University of Iowa's Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, where she explained how to think about career exploration in a fun and creative way.

The video guided an activity and discussion points to help students identify their natural path that aligns with their aptitude and interests. At the STEAM Institute, students participated in three interactive sessions hosted by businesses and organizations related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and/or Math. This provides a window into the world of careers and connects them to community opportunities.