Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub
-January-February 2025-
Meet the STEAM Hub Project Manager, Amanda Wade
We are very fortunate to have a talented, artistic and dedicated individual who takes care of all of the nuts and bolts that make our STEAM Hub operate efficiently. Amanda Wade (formerly Clark) grew up in our area and has been actively involved in the Science scene since a young age. She was involved in 4-H as both a participant and a leader for the last 20 years. Her hobbies include painting and ceramics. She resides in Roseburg with her husband, Zach and their dog Lily.
Featured Coding Products; MBots and Lego WeDos
The STEAM Hub has had this item for about a year and surprisingly, they are not checked out frequently.
The “Tech Toy of the Year for 2023” Mbots (of which we have 14) are self-contained units which are easily codable with a “Scratch” app. The nice thing about this item is it really focuses on coding without the building and management of dozens of parts.
Featured Coding Products; MBots and Lego WeDos
The STEAM Hub has had this item for about a year and surprisingly, they are not checked out frequently.
The “Tech Toy of the Year for 2023” Mbots (of which we have 14) are self-contained units which are easily codable with a “Scratch” app. The nice thing about this item is it really focuses on coding without the building and management of dozens of parts.
Students starting as early as first grade can easily drag and drop the directions into a sequence that controls the movement of the robot, color and distance sensors. You can also build your own custom dashboards! Additionally, the Mbot comes with a remote control that students can manipulate to make the robot move.
For students who struggle with basic reading skills, we have another product, Lego WeDos, that uses picture coding only. It does have assembly required, but at a basic level.
The following are QR Codes to the STEAM Hub overviews for both of these products as well as a great video using Mbots:
WeDo’s
WE Rock!
Lending Library, Early Childhood Education PDs on Tap
The UV STEAMHub will be offering two PDs. The first, February 20th will focus on resources available in the lending library and the website. Hands-on training will occur for Mbots, Code Rockets, VRGoggles, Sphero Blueprints (structural kits) and several more. All the items can be utilized from the earliest learning through high school.
On Thursday, March 13th, the focus will be on early childhood education (ages 3-7) and will include; how to incorporate instructional strategies, how to make use of the materials available through the STEAM Hub and other available resources. QR codes for registration for each event listed to the right.
