Students from ROMS had a hands-on visit from Oakland Schools' STEMi Mobile Innovation Station before school got out. For one week students saw autonomous vehicles, collaborative robots, extended reality, and smart manufacturing. This lab on wheels featured 1,000 square feet of interactive high-tech industry equipment aimed at providing students access to STEM equipment and developing opportunities for connections to STEM and career readiness through learning experiences, according to Oakland Schools. Tech experts from Oakland Schools were also along for the ride to work with students at the many stations on board and to answer the hard questions.
"Learning about current and emerging technologies of the world must include hands-on experience," said Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Royal Oak Schools Superintendent. "This opportunity made available through Oakland Schools is one way to bring that technology into the hands of our students."
The STEMi program launched in the spring of 2021 and will be making the rounds to all districts in Oakland County free of cost for at least five years. Oakland Schools says that their goal with the van is for learners to be inspired to pursue STEM careers, educators to engage in the experience with students, and lead them to develop connections between future employment opportunities and the classroom.