From design to prototype - Manufacturing STEM integration in the classroom and laboratory

The community and technical college systems possess unique opportunities to showcase the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs into cohesive, collective, and collaborative learning environments. It will be shown that involvement from separate disciplines within STEM fields facilitates a learning environment greater than the sum of its individual parts. Critical involvement from industry partners and sponsors will become fundamental when approaching STEM program integration. Furthermore, with the proper selection and utilization of lower-cost educational technology and machinery, the opportunity to emulate a manufacturing paradigm “from design to prototype” presents itself. The fundamental challenge to take theory shown in class, to a fully realizable product, produced in the college laboratory will be examined. In addition, the question will be asked whether the funding necessary to develop a premier STEM-based college laboratory could be within reach of the typical community / technical college budget? And ultimately, a discussion of the hurdles faced to integrate faculty and staff from the separate STEM disciplines into one collaborative unit will be presented.