Inspired by the dialog at a recent USD325 site council meeting regarding career paths and certification options for our local students, the PCED TechSpace project was designed to supplement and enhance resources for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) based learning. 

The project, while still in its infancy, has already exceeded expectations. “The first phase of our objective was to foster a greater interest in STEM related career fields at a K-12 level,” says Nick Poels, Executive Director at PCED. “We are currently providing over 350 students with a coding and programming curriculum, guided by our partnership with the teaching staff at USD325.”

TechSpace provides an interactive K-12 comprehensive course pathway including foundational logic skills, an introduction to object-based programming, transition to text-based code, and an introduction to professional programming languages. 

Online curriculum is supported and enhanced by robotics, engineering and programming equipment, available for all skill levels and age groups. Students are able to gain an understanding of the devices which are designed for progressive learning including drawing paths, drag and drop block coding and writing text programs using JavaScript. These young individuals are not only learning specific technical skills, but also strategies for problem solving, collaborative working, communicating ideas and designing projects. 

Students begin to learn coding basics from a self-paced curriculum.
This week, students and teachers have accessed the facility for the first time and had a glimpse into what TechSpace has to offer not only K-12 but also continuing education and beyond. 

“I am so excited that my students have the opportunity to use the new TechSpace facility,” mentions Emily Blank, Science Teacher at Phillipsburg Middle School. “Our goal as educators is to help prepare our students for the real world, and with TechSpace, my students are becoming 21st century learners in a way I could not present in my classroom. During our first session, I was able to watch my students engage with the programs and every student had a level of success, which is a total win-win!”

Poels anticipates future growth in the current curriculum to include additional STEM opportunities and content. “TechSpace is a work in progress. We are already looking at the scalability of the project to not only benefit our other county school districts but also to provide certification options for local workforce development.”

“We appreciate the support from PCED in making TechSpace available to our students,” explains Mike Gower, USD325 Superintendent. “This program is cutting edge and I applaud the vision of PCED Executive Director Nick Poels and the PCED board of directors in implementing this program for our school and community. It will create opportunities for all ages as some may enter the work force right away because of it while our younger students will have the benefit of career exploration and hopefully use the program to broaden their horizons and make themselves more marketable in the future.”