Virtual STEM University Brings New Opportunities to Southington Students

When Southington Education Foundation President Dawn Miceli brought the new Virtual STEM University initiative before teachers and staff at the Southington schools convocation last week, the video drew a large round of applause and cheers.

The program, a web-based tool designed to bring enriching opportunities in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, will soon be making a difference in Southington classrooms.


“It’s a great opportunity for this district and one we wouldn’t have if not for a dedicated group like SEF,” School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. said. “This will only serve to help better prepare our students for the global economy and life beyond school in Southington.”

The Virtual STEM University is an educational resource for teachers that will offer easy access to innovative lesson design plans for the classroom. The uploaded lesson design plans will foster greater aptitude in and commitment to STEM education in Southington’s K-12 classrooms, Miceli said.

Miceli said the University will strengthen the move towards digital and global citizenship for all of the district’s students as technology lends itself to a more thorough understanding of complex concepts and the 21st century world.

“To be at the forefront of STEM education in terms of ensuring meaningful instruction in these key disciplines is an exciting opportunity and the Southington Education Foundation is pleased to help facilitate this initiative,” she said.  “The SEF has committed to enhancing the current STEM practices in place in our K-12 curriculum and the Virtual STEM University ensures that our educators will have access to the best resources to instill a love of learning in our students.”

Perhaps most exciting is that this virtual institution will establish Southington as a national model for STEM resources and education. Educators will have the ability to share ideas with one another and collaborate both within their schools and across the district, according to a press release from SEF.

The Virtual STEM University is part of a five-prong commitment to advancing STEM education in Southington.  Other initiatives include supporting and enhancing STEM programming already underway in and outside of our classrooms.

SEF recently awarded $1,500 to the Cyber Knights Team. The SEF also annually funds a district-wide fourth-grade program at Camp Sloper, a project-based STEM initiative in the natural sciences.

For more on the new program, see the attached video, which debuted at the convocation last week.

Make sure to like Southington Patch on Facebook and follow on Twitter for breaking news, daily updates and more!