Apps, robotics & innovative solutions

MONTEGO BAY, St James — It was a day of apps, robotics and innovative solutions, Tuesday, as primary and secondary students of Fairfield International Academy (FIA) in Montego Bay showcased the problem-solving skills learnt in their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes.

Young Aiden Epstein, for example, used LEGOs to build a prototype of a waste-removal machine, then he created the code that makes it move. His goal was to create a machine that makes lighter work of cleaning up the mess left by Hurricane Melissa.

“[There is] a bulldozer to move stuff out of the way, sponge on the bottom to clean up and [a] crane on the top to clean up and move it out of the way,” the fifth grader told the Jamaica Observer.

Also influenced by last October’s Category 5 storm, seventh grader Keanan Fowler built a prototype of a house designed to better buffer storm-force winds.

“This is a hurricane-sustainable home with a hip roof. This roof is slanted in a way that it protects the roof against 135-plus miles per hour winds because it directs the wind over and around the house instead of hitting the roof directly and blowing it down,” he explained.

Fowler added that a big part of the design includes a Simpson strong tie which, he said, if placed every six inches on each bar, can lower the chances of roof damage.

“This connects the roof to the walls because, as they say, a house is strong as its roof,” Fowler stressed.

For fellow students Micah Russell-Clarke, Taeo Lewis and Aelin Huang, the focus was on highlighting and solving problems.

“We have an app called Fixzone where you can report problems within your community. There is a report page for anybody to make a report,” stated Russell-Clarke who envisions the app being applicable in a wide range of situations.

Other projects on display included an erupting volcano, and a water wheel – all competing for the title of best STEM-related project. For FIA’s STEM coordinator, Tasa-Talia Forbes, it was understandable that this year’s entries focused heavily on the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

“There are different competitions for them to enter and the competitions were geared towards that because STEM education is looking at the world around us; coming up with solutions for the problems that we see,” she said.

“Here at FIA, we try to encourage a lot of critical thinking and problem solving, which is done in our classrooms on a daily basis. What you see on display here is that skill coming forward, them looking at their environment, looking at their communities and coming up with solutions to problems that they see,” Forbes added.

She stressed that STEM has become an important part of the school curriculum as is it seen as critical to preparing students for the future.

“We have systems in place so that we have an incorporation of all the different facets of STEM so as to develop these core skills. Because we are developing 21st century kids, kids who are able to use everything they learn and put it together in order to be problem solvers,” said Forbes.

FIA Principal Grace Farquharson had high praise for the projects on display during Tuesday’s fair.

“The students have really impressed us so far. We just want it to be a space where they can practise presenting and feel confident in the community,” she beamed.

UWI Discovery Bay Marine Park, HEART NSTA Trust, and Moulding Masterminds were invited to participate in the fair as a way to show students other ways in which STEM can be used in real life.

“We want to make sure our students know how impactful and useful it is in their careers,” said Forbes.

Students show off their mini volcano to a judge during Tuesday’s STEM fair at Fairfield International Academy in Montego Bay.

Seventh-grader Keanan Fowler explains key details about his sustainable roof during a STEM fair at Fairfield International Academy on Tuesday.

Luke Pinto (Left) and Aiden Epstein show off their robot design at Tuesday’s STEM fair at Fairfield International Academy in Montego Bay.

Aelin Huang (left), Taeo Lewis (centre) and Micah Russell-Clarke during the STEM Fair held at Fairfield International Academy on Tuesday.