HOPEWELL TWP. — Sewing and cooking have been staple lessons of family and consumer science classes, but at Hopewell High School this year, they also integrated a 3D printer and laser etching into sewing and fashion design lessons.
It’s among many ways classes have utilized the school’s STEAM Lab — short for science, technology, engineering, art and math — which was funded from a $20,000 Remake Learning grant the district received in 2016, said Bronwyn Korchnak, the school’s gifted-education coordinator.
“We’re seeing better grades,” she said. “By letting the kids see it and do it … rather than reading it, it was more realistic.”
A Remake Learning Days open house was held in the classroom Friday morning, when students showcased some of their projects, from vinyl snowflakes made with the laser engraver and sewn onto pants, to SeaPerch robots built to complete tasks in water.
The grant the district received was able to fund a BOXZY device, which has 3D printer, laser etching and CNC router capabilities, as well as a 900-gallon tank to test SeaPerch robots.
Students enrolled in family and consumer sciences used the BOXZY for the first time for their projects.
“It was kind of neat to be able to do something different,” said Ashton Schultz, 16, who made a necklace using the 3D printer.
Her classmates, Kayla Dilisio, 16, made the snowflake pants, and Abbey Dobbins, 17, made a bowtie and bracelet.
Esther Aloia, the school’s family and consumer science teacher, was excited to give students a new opportunity. Students presented their technology-enhanced fashion creations at a fashion show last year.
“I was really excited to have the opportunity to do that,” Aloia said.
Math and physics students have have also utilized the school’s STEAM Lab.