STEM Focus For One North Texas School Starts In Parking Lot

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GRAND PRAIRIE (CBS11) - Amid a nationwide push to get more students interested in STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering and Math—a North Texas school district is doing more than tweaking the curriculum.

The entire school building is designed to support STEM instruction.

"Learning has to be practical and applicable," said Nancy McGee, Grand Prairie ISD's STEM Director. "It's got to be fun!"

And at the Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Milam Elementary in Grand Prairie, the STEM push begins in the parking lot.

The building's exterior design is inspired by tectonic plates and the theme is carried throughout through multicolored wall tiles.

"The building helps so much," said McGee. "We've got lots of open spaces. We race cars in the hallways, we can fire rockets. This really helps us with being able to get kids involved in their own education."

And the hands on learning so critical to STEM isn't just reserved for the students. During teacher training today, staff worked with engineers from nearby Lockheed Martin on experiments that turned water bottles in rockets, and old DVDs into race cars. And supporters say the building's creative, collaborative spaces support the STEM style of engaged teaching and learning.

"It was awesome, a lot of fun to design this building," said Eric Horstman, an educational architect with Dallas based Corgan. The design of the STEM school leaves parts of the building construction exposed to encourage and reward curiosity.

"That includes the structure and the mechanical and electrical system, sprinkler pipes," said Horstman, "so there are portions where the ceiling pulls back and you can see those things-- but, you can also see how the ceilings normally covers all those things up, so in every building you go in you say 'I know what's up there'."

Horstman says education and STEM design is a specialty that is expanding in the architecture industry as other communities take note of the outdoor classrooms, and creative learning spaces like his favorite—the 'dirty labs'.

"It's okay to make a mess in here," says Horstman, pointing to the white board covered walls and nearby sinks and tools intended to cultivate creativity. "Everything is movable."

Flexible learning spaces throughout the building encouraging students to collaborate, problem solve and polish communication skills—even at the elementary level.

"The learning takes place in the classroom. It takes place out of the classroom," said McGee, "it's after school. It's all day here: STEM is everywhere."

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