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Shannon Locking: WazEd STEM kits boost curiosity and teamwork in elementary grades
Summary
Elementary teacher Shannon Locking described use of WazEd kits in grades 2 and 5 — AR/VR for second graders and robotics/AI for fifth graders — and said the hands-on units build problem-solving, collaboration and digital citizenship.
Shannon Locking, the district's elementary and primary computer teacher, told the board the WazEd STEM curriculum is being piloted in grade 2 (AR/VR) and grade 5 (robotics, coding and AI) and that students responded enthusiastically. "We're not teaching devices. We are teaching thinking," she said.
Locking described activities used in second grade — coloring pages brought to life with an app called Quiver, augmented-reality scenes, and floor mazes for small-group robot navigation — and said students rotated through stations that emphasized movement, visuals and exploration. For fifth grade, she described students assembling robots from kits, following step-by-step instructions on Chromebooks, and learning troubleshooting and computational thinking when builds did not go perfectly.
Locking said the program is inclusive and supports a range of learners; co-taught classes in Walter's classroom benefited from mixed-ability groupings and push-in support. She framed the curriculum goals as building confidence in STEM, promoting creativity and leadership, and preparing students for future careers. On AI she added, "AI is not perfect," using a recent Waymo incident to underline the importance of digital citizenship and not overrelying on automation.
The board thanked the Bogenhagen family for allowing a student demonstration and discussed opportunities to connect younger students with older robotics clubs. Teachers and administrators said they will continue piloting WazEd and will consider expansion in coming years.
