Expanding Hands-On STEM and Engineering Learning
Across South Bend Schools
Grant Amount: $25,000
Purpose of Grant
To expand access to technology and instructional resources that support hands-on STEM, engineering, computer science, and Maker Space learning throughout South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC).
Grant Impact
Thanks to the generous support of Views on Learning through the Technology Innovation Grants for Educational Resources (TIGER) Grant, South Bend Community School Corporation was able to invest $25,000 in technology and equipment for STEM and engineering instruction across six schools.
Grant funding supported Madison STEAM Academy, Monroe Elementary School, LaSalle Academy, Riley High School, Washington High School, and Adams High School. These investments helped establish and expand Maker Spaces, introduce students to new technology, and provide educators with additional tools to incorporate hands-on STEM learning into academic instruction.
One of the most significant outcomes of the grant was the expansion of 3D printing technology to six SBCSC schools. Students at these schools now have greater opportunities to experience the engineering design process—from developing an idea and creating a digital design to producing, testing, and refining a physical product.
Beyond 3D printing, TIGER funding provided coding, robotics, electronics, and engineering resources that give students multiple ways to explore STEM concepts through hands-on learning.
Grant Funds at a Glance
Monroe Elementary School — $12,000
Funding supported the most extensive Maker Space investment of the grant, including Scratch Jr., Tynker, Sphero coding and robotics resources, a 3D printer and additional filament, LEGO Education SPIKE kits and additional parts, 3D pens, and circuit-building materials.
Madison STEAM Academy — $3,500
Funding expanded Madison’s existing Maker Space with Maker Space Task Cards from hand2mind, a 3D printer, paper circuit kits with LEDs and copper tape, and LEGO Education SPIKE resources.
Riley High School — $2,500
Funding supported a 3D printer and filament for hands-on STEM, computer science, and engineering instruction.
LaSalle Academy — $2,500
Funding supported a 3D printer and filament, providing students with greater access to hands-on design and fabrication technology.
Washington High School — $2,500
Funding supported a 3D printer and filament, expanding opportunities for students to engage in design, engineering, and fabrication.
Adams High School — $2,000
Funding supported a 3D printer and filament for classroom-based STEM and engineering applications.
Total TIGER Grant Investment: $25,000
Creating Spaces for Students to Learn by Doing
Maker Spaces provide students with opportunities to learn in ways that complement traditional classroom instruction. Students are encouraged to explore ideas, design solutions, test their work, learn from what doesn’t work, and try again.
The technology purchased through the TIGER Grant gives educators more opportunities to incorporate the engineering design process, critical thinking, creativity, coding, and problem-solving into academic instruction. Instead of simply learning about STEM concepts, students can put those concepts into practice.
At Monroe Elementary, the grant made possible a particularly significant expansion of hands-on STEM resources. Students can explore coding through Scratch Jr. and Tynker, work with Sphero robots, design and build with LEGO Education SPIKE, experiment with circuits, and create physical objects using 3D printers and 3D pens. Together, these resources provide multiple entry points into STEM learning and allow students to discover areas that spark their individual curiosity.
At Madison STEAM Academy, TIGER funding built upon an existing Maker Space, adding resources that allow educators to offer an even broader range of hands-on learning experiences. Maker Space Task Cards provide structured challenges, while LEGO Education SPIKE, paper circuits, and 3D printing give students opportunities to turn ideas and concepts into tangible projects.
Expanding Access to Technology
An important goal of this investment was making technology available to students who previously had limited or no access to it.
With TIGER funding, six SBCSC schools received new 3D printers, significantly expanding access to this technology across the district. Students can now design objects digitally, produce prototypes, evaluate their effectiveness, and refine their work based on what they learn.
That process mirrors the work of engineers and designers in the real world and reinforces an important lesson: innovation rarely happens on the first attempt. Students learn to approach challenges with curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to revise their ideas.
The variety of resources funded by the grant also makes STEM learning accessible to students with different interests and strengths. One student might discover an interest in computer science through coding a robot, while another may be drawn to engineering through LEGO design, electronics through circuit building, or product design through 3D printing.
Building Skills for the Future
While the TIGER Grant provided tangible equipment and technology, its lasting value lies in what students are able to do with those resources.
Through these experiences, students have opportunities to develop:
- Critical thinking and problem-solving
- Creativity and innovation
- Coding and computational thinking
- Engineering and design skills
- Collaboration and communication
- Persistence and adaptability
These skills are valuable not only for students interested in STEM careers, but for all students as they prepare for future education, careers, and an increasingly technology-driven world.
The equipment purchased through the TIGER Grant also represents a long-term investment. 3D printers, robotics kits, coding resources, circuits, and other Maker Space materials can be incorporated into instruction year after year, allowing the impact of this
$25,000 grant to extend to future classes of South Bend students.
Thank You
We are deeply grateful to Views on Learning and the donors who make the TIGER Grant possible. Your investment has provided students across South Bend Schools with greater access to technology while strengthening STEM and engineering instruction throughout the district.
Because of your support, students have more opportunities to design, build, code, experiment, problem-solve, and discover what they are capable of accomplishing.
On behalf of the South Bend Education Alliance, South Bend Community School Corporation, our educators, and the students who will benefit from these resources for years to come, thank you for investing in innovative learning in South Bend Schools.