COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Middle School has opened two new labs featuring opportunities in Esports and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). The labs will provide students with opportunities that will prepare them for high school and beyond.
The Esports lab offers 24 gaming PCs and eight Nintendo Switch consoles. It allows students to stay at the Middle School rather than travel to the high school to participate in competitions. The Esports class is part of Panther Block, a time during the school day for students to get extra help from their teachers or take an elective class of their interest. The administration hopes to join an Esports league and form a team in the near future.
The STEAM lab, directly next door, has two 3D printers, Chromebooks and a variety of drones and robots for students to work with. STEAM is a special-area course that all students will take for a 36-day cycle this year.
Staff are using NextWaveSTEAM for lessons, which is an online tool offering lesson plans designed to simplify teaching STEAM subjects, vetted STEAM kits for hands-on learning, professional development for teachers and ongoing instructional support. The space has flexible furniture and access to technology that allows students to get hands-on experience rather than having a teacher teach this class from a cart.
“Everything from the technology to the furniture was strategically chosen to outfit these rooms,” said school Principal Jeff Ortman. “Both labs will offer experiences teaching valuable skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
“With this early access to coding, robotics and drones, students will have the opportunity to build on their skills here as they progress to high school. As for Esports, the hope is to have them prepared to be part of the competition team or even choose the dual-credit course once they get to high school.”
Stockton University began offering college credit to Middle Township High School students interested in computer gaming through an agreement in 2023. The dual-credit offering, Introduction to Esports, introduces students to the history, development and current state of Esports.
