Stimulating STEM: Rose State Launches Program for Kids to Get the Science Juices Flowing Published October 23, 2015

Midwest City, Okla. – One-hundred second graders at Soldier Creek Elementary in the Mid-Del School district are firing up their creative juices. They are taking pen in hand to put on paper their “dream machine”. It could be a robot that cleans their room or a revolving bunk-bed. No idea is too small and that’s what they’ll soon learn.

The students are taking part in a creative education program called MyMachine. The elementary students come up with an idea on paper. It’s up to the college and tech students to bring that idea to life in a full prototype.

This program stimulates creativity in education, entrepreneurship, promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Open Education. The MyMachine program started in Belgium and through a partnership with Creative Oklahoma is now in Oklahoma and offered by Rose State College.

“MyMachine is still the only initiative on the planet to unite all educational levels”, stated Piet Grymonprez, Co-Founder MyMachine. “They collaborate as peers to create working prototypes of dream machines invented by children in elementary class rooms. Higher education students translate those ideas into a concept and students at the Technology Center will make a working prototype. All of this in one academic year.”

 “Creativity must be the cornerstone of all original thinking and what we are doing at Rose State is fostering that thought process in our children and in our collegiate classrooms,” stated Dr. Jeanie Webb, President of Rose State College. “Employers are looking for graduates who can think creatively and we are on the front of building that skill-set early on.”

Rose State is the first higher-education institution in North America to offer the educational concept.

 “Mid-Del is happy to participate in the My Machine program to give these students an opportunity to experience learning in its most pure state: creativity,” said Dr. Rick Cobb, Mid-Del Superintendent. “This is one of many ways in which the district partners with Rose State College to give our students opportunities.”

This event marks the program launch with another similar kick-off in an Oklahoma City school next week. Students will be able to see one of their live, working “dream machines” next spring.