PALMETTO, Fla. — Much of the summer for some of the staff members at Palm View Elementary in Palmetto was spent in the classroom.
- First school in the state to use the Woz Pathways program in all areas of study
- Manatee school district paid $50,000 for the program
- Program teaches staff members and students coding, engineering, how to fly drones and more
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A few skills they mastered include programming robots, running 3-D printers, and learning how to fly drones.
Yes, these are elementary school teachers. Yes, students as young as kindergarten will be learning these skills, too.
Palm View Elementary is the first school in the state to use the Woz Pathways program across all areas of study. The program was inspired and created by Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak.
"I think we live in a world today where we Google it,” said teacher Neirda Lafontant. “You need an answer and you Google it, but we're going to teach them to think critically and analytically and be able to process.”
Starting in kindergarten, students will learn the basics of engineering, coding, cyber-security, and even how to fly drones.
The idea is that students will be hooked on science professions young, which will set them up for success.
"It's just getting them excited about it earlier,” said Principal Kaththea Johnson.
The program cost the School District of Manatee County roughly $50,000, while the rest was funded by a non-profit.