Career-Connected grant takes students around the world

Traveling to Peru, exploring ancient Greece, or taking an expedition to Antarctica are new opportunities coming to the student classrooms at Wahkiakum School District this fall. Thanks to the WSU Wahkiakum Extension Service and their work to secure Career-Connected grants, students can use innovative technology from two rounds of grant monies awarded.

Round one of the grants supported the robotics program and provided a 3D printer in the robotics technology classroom. The Round two award was $183,858 to grow Career-Connected learning using robotics and technology. It was partially used to purchase twenty-five sets of virtual reality (VR) googles at a cost of $13,733.72. Other funds are earmarked for additional programming.

Wahkiakum and Naselle School Districts are reaping the benefits of the Career-Connected grants. Career exploration opportunities will be coming to the classroom with representatives from various careers sharing their experiences.

When asked about the value of the partnership between the school district and the WSU Extension service, Carrie Shofner, the local agent is excited about the opportunities. “We’ve experienced community-wide support to grow new opportunities for Wahkiakum students and prepare them to enter the workforce.  Area businesses, ESD112, WSU, 4-H, Wahkiakum County Commissioners, parents, teachers, principals, superintendents, students, and volunteers have all contributed to make a positive difference.  We’re grateful for this powerful collaboration.”

In addition, the funds purchased Lego robotics kits for both schools, which are one of the most popular activities in the school. The benefit of robotics education in developing young minds has proven successful as Wahkiakum’s Mecha Mules have won several state and national awards in recent years.

The new VR google sets are an exciting opportunity for students to see places around the world, teach about landforms, geography, and historical sites. The expedition and Odyssey experiences are not only geography related though. Music, the arts, and science are also topics that have lesson plans ready for staff to adapt into their curriculum. Another opportunity is for students and teachers to build their own VR experiences and to share their content in the virtual library.

A team of school staff have worked with Jessica Vik, the WSU Extension 4-H liaison, to familiarize themselves with the VR expeditions platforms and learn the basics of their operation. A training will take place to assist teachers in integrating the platform into the classroom soon.