Elementary Education Students Learn to Use 3D Technology to Increase Student Achievement

Students from the Elementary Education and Reading Department gathered at St. Christopher School, a Professional Development Schools Consortium partner located in Tonawanda, NY, this week to learn about an innovative new technology designed to increase student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subject areas.

The Educators of America presentation included use of a 3D STEM Lab, which consists of 3D-computers, -glasses, and -projectors, and special content designed for use in K-12 schools. The Buffalo State students who attended the presentation are enrolled in EDU 312 The Teaching of Mathematics and Science in the Elementary Classroom, taught by Coralee Smith, associate profess or of elementary education and reading.

“We are proud to endorse and demonstrate the 3D STEM Lab because of the tremendous promise it shows to increase student achievement,” said Michael Lynch, executive director of Educators of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting teachers with the training and technology needed to increase student achievement. “When a group of students views a lesson in 3D, their achievement increases by 20 to 30 percent more than students who don’t get the exposure to the 3D content.”

Tyler Krempa, ’15, also of Educators of America, added “We can’t wait to see how new teachers use the technology to help students in STEM subject areas.” Krempa is a Buffalo State elementary education graduate as well as a former student of Smith’s EDU 312 class.

The 3D STEM Lab is made in the United State by Buffalo Technology Integrators in partnership with Stampede Presentation Products. The lab is a highly customized system that integrates several pieces of technology with 3D content to create an engaging effect for students.

Pictured left to right: Student Josh Walker, Smith, and student Emily Honsberger