On March 17, St. Albert the Great Catholic School, in partnership with University Hospitals Parma Medical Center, unveiled its brand new, state-of-the-art educational technology in its new zSpace STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Lab. St. Albert the Great School is one of the only schools in Ohio to receive this new technology, which is expected to open up a whole new world for students.
This extremely hands-on and visual way of learning was first introduced in California. According to zSpace officials, “ zSpace STEM Lab, consists of virtual reality desktops each outfitted with a custom interaction stylus as well as a wide variety of educational software. The desktops track head movements to provide the students with a personal and immersive virtual reality experience. Virtual holographic images can be “lifted” from the screen and manipulated with the stylus. Some applications provide multi-sensory feedback; for example, students working with a virtual heart can see the blood moving through it as well as feel it beating.” Students wear special, light weight glasses and use a pen-like stylus to click on, rotate, disassemble and reassemble holographic images.
The school purchased 16 units of zSpace for the brand new STEM Lab, according to St. Albert the Great Principal, Ed Vittardi. “Our STEM lab evolved out of a committee of 20 parents, teachers and administrators involved/interested in STEM fields looking to make a difference for their child’s school. The committee, after researching multiple approaches, became very interested in zSpace.” Vittardi went on to say that “following an anonymous parent donation of $25,000 and a matching partnership with UH Parma Medical Center, the first ten units became a reality. Shortly thereafter, the WE Give Catholic campaign helped raise additional funds to make the additional units and other STEM programming possible. This technology is used by medical students and NOW St. Albert the Great students!”


Vittardi said that the partnership with UH Parma “will include medical residents engaging with our students in various lessons as part of the STEM Lab with zSpace and in other classes as well,” said Vittardi. “This technology and the STEM Lab is used in science, math, art and eventually other disciplines as well. More than 500 activities directly tied to our educational standards are available with more being added. Most of the utilization will be in grades four through eight. This program is just one aspect of SATG’s and our STEM 2017 Committee’s STEM program. Our teachers are engaged in professional development via Cleveland State University in the development of STEM based lessons at all grades across many disciplines. Additional resources for these curricular enhancements are part of the plan as well.”
St. Albert the Great 7th and 8th Grade Science and Health Teacher, Kathleen A. Beskid, is happy with the new technology. “I am a Junior High Science Teacher, and have been teaching Science for over thirty years. The zSpace has provided my students with the opportunity to ‘think outside the box’, to be creative, and to actually have fun in Science. My kids are enthused about next year’s Science Fair, having worked through experiments on zSpace. It has been an awesome experience; I wish all schools were able to have this great program.”

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer