Pewaukee middle‑school teachers present new STEAM Design course and student projects
Summary
Asa Clark Middle School teachers Scott Roehl and Kate Fruth presented a new STEAM Design elective that gives seventh‑ and eighth‑graders hands‑on access to makerspace tools, a business‑venture unit and culminating student pitches. The district highlighted how the course links to a planned high‑school pathway.
Asa Clark Middle School teachers presented the board with a new STEAM Design elective that moves students from ideation to hands‑on production using the district makerspace.
Scott Roehl, a 20‑year district teacher, said the course evolved from earlier '20first century skills' and a later 'Code to Create' class and now leverages equipment added after the 2020 referendum. "Part of that was a brand new maker space and a lot of technology...which has forced us to kind of evolve our curriculum," Roehl said, describing students using laser engravers, CNC routers, large‑format and vinyl printers and upgraded 3‑D printers placed now in classroom spaces.
Kate Fruth, who developed the course with Roehl, described a two‑unit structure: a technical unit focused on designing and operating machines, and a business‑ventures unit that asks students to create mission statements, logos, value propositions and marketing plans. "A choice board works very well here because this allows students to choose which activities they want to do to continue to extend their learning," Fruth said. She said students will deliver final classroom pitches starting the next school day.
Teachers showed samples of student work — 3‑D prints, laser‑cut pieces and vinyl logos — and explained the iterative design process: sketch, prototype, test and revise. Roehl emphasized that a goal is to shift operation of machines into students’ hands. The course is designed to connect to a planned high‑school team‑design course and to broaden students’ software and fabrication skills beyond entry‑level tools.
The presentation also flagged future curriculum work: Roehl said the district plans to work with district technology staff "about how can we safely, effectively, and efficiently empower kids to use AI as personalized...feedback" to supplement teacher and peer critique.
When board members asked about scale, presenters said the program currently runs six sections (four seventh‑grade, two eighth‑grade) and estimated "roughly 150" seventh‑ and eighth‑grade students had taken the course this year across sections. Board members praised the program and its community support.
The board did not take formal action on the presentation; the spotlight concluded with the board opening the floor to other business.
