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STEM Week showcases surgeon-training technology
Canfield students perform experiments
By amanda tonoli
CANFIELD
Hilltop Elementary School students on showed their hand-eye coordination skills with surgeon-training technology Tuesday.
The event was part of STEM Week – science, technology, engineering and math.
Dr. Dennis Orr, a surgeon at Northside Hospital, brought a device used to train surgeons for the students to interact with, as part of the technology aspect of STEM.
The endo-surgical device is a box containing a peg board with four pegs placed a few inches apart. The rubber bands on the pegs are meant to be moved from one to the other. There are holes in the top for a grabbing tool to maneuver through to move the rubber bands, and a webcam. The web-cam allows users to see their actions on a monitor.
Students were more focused than volunteer Bill Stilson thought they would be, he said.
“They are so intent and concentrating, and it finally dawned on me, this is what they do – this is what they do at home, play video games,” Stilson said.
Joe Maroni, Hilltop principal, said despite the bad reputation video games get, this hands-
on method highlights the hand-eye coordination skills students have developed through playing them.
Parent-teacher organization chairwoman Melanie Gaffney said students love the hands-on aspect of working in STEM because it’s better to be doing than just seeing.
“This is fun,” said first-grader Collin Casey while learning to operate the surgical-training device.
At another station, the Salt Volcano, first-grader Christopher Johnson added salt to a colored water and oil solution to watch a lava lamp-like reaction.
“Whoa, it looks so cool,” Christopher said.
Stilson said this week-long program in the school gymnasium is fun for everyone and ever-changing.
Each year, PTO members start meeting in August to plan different stations and activities to teach students about the STEM field. Two stations are dedicated for each area of STEM, giving students the opportunity to experience all aspects in STEM Week.
Stilson said it’s always an important discussion to not only keep students interested in this program, but to also tie it into their yearly curriculums.
Volunteer Angie Lolakis said she asks students questions when they are working in each activity to get them to think.
“They could really experiment with what they are doing,” Lolakis said.
Maroni said he was grateful for the PTO, parent volunteers and teachers for what they do for the students.
“The most important thing is making them lifelong learners,” Maroni said.