Inspiring Eighth-Grade Students with Real-World STEM Applications through Industry-Education Collaboration

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Mar 19, 2025, 13:15 ET

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning Blade powered by eDynamic Learning, a leading STEM career awareness platform for grades 5–9, is collaborating with the U.S. Navy's Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program and BlueForge Alliance (BFA) to inspire the next generation of maritime manufacturing professionals. As part of this collaboration, these organizations have partnered with the MIT Edgerton Center and the MIT Sea Grant underwater robotics initiative to provide eighth-grade students from Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School (Reading Public Schools) with an immersive, hands-on experience exploring cutting-edge technologies and career pathways in the maritime industry.

An eighth-grade student's submersible in the MIT Edgerton Center wave pool.

Eighth-grade students work hands-on with submersibles at the MIT Edgerton Center wave pool.

Eighth-grade students receive activity instructions for building submersibles at the MIT Edgerton Center.

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, students visited the MIT Edgerton Center. During the visit, students toured the facility, participated in do-it-yourself (DIY) marine science experiments, and worked in pairs to build, test, and deploy their own SeaPerch remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This experience bridges classroom learning with real-world applications, reinforcing the importance of STEM education for national progress, security, and workforce development.

"When students get to build and test technology like underwater robots, it transforms STEM from an abstract concept into something tangible and thrilling. These collaborations inspire students to dream bigger and pursue careers they might never have considered." Stated Jerry Wooden, CEO of eDynamic Learning, parent company of Learning Blade, emphasizing the power of industry-education partnerships.

"Experiences like these help students see the real-world impact of their studies," said Carrie Curtis, Ph.D., Education Initiatives Lead, U.S. Navy Maritime Industrial Base Program. "By stepping into a leading research environment, they can better visualize the exciting future that STEM careers can offer."

Students were able to interact with key industry and academic leaders at the MIT Edgerton Center. The hands-on experiences and access to experts provided insights into the skills and training needed for careers in submarine manufacturing and maritime technology.

"Hands-on experiences like building and testing ROVs are invaluable in showing students the exciting potential of maritime robotics," said Andrew Bennett, Ph.D., MIT Sea Grant Education Administrator and SeaPerch program lead. "We hope this opportunity inspires students to see themselves as future innovators and problem-solvers in ocean technology."

This initiative is part of Learning Blade's ongoing effort to expose students to high-demand career pathways. Through educational materials, such as the "Beneath the Waves" mission, and other experiential learning opportunities, students will gain valuable insights to guide their future educational and career decisions.

For more information about Learning Blade, visit Learning Blade. To learn more about the Navy-funded partnership with Learning Blade, visit here.

SOURCE eDynamic Learning