The new spaces feature 24 Esports stations and introduce students to drones, robotics and 3D printing
Students working in the new MTMS STEAM Lab (left) and Esports Lab (right)
Cape May Court House, NJ – Middle Township Middle School (MTMS) opened two new labs at the start of the 2024-2025 school year featuring opportunities in Esports and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). This project, which began in Jan. 2023, will rovide students with opportunities that will prepare them for high school and beyond.
“It’s amazing to see this space finally take shape,” said Middle Township Public Schools superintendent Dr. David Salvo. “This type of technology will offer hands-on learning opportunities that foster critical thinking, creativity and teamwork.”
A student utilizing the new MTMS Esports Lab
The Esports lab offers 24 gaming PCs and eight Nintendo Switch consoles. It allows the 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. 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, Chomebooks, and a variety of drones and robots for students to work with. STEAM is a special area course at MTMS 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 to prepare students for the future. This space provides a dynamic space with flexible furniture and access to technology that allows students to get hands-on rather than having the teacher try to teach this class from a cart.
The MTMS STEAM Lab
“Everything from the technology to the furniture was strategically chosen to outfit these rooms,” said MTMS 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 (MTHS) 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. Offered through Stockton’s School of Business, the course discusses the interconnectedness of esports with traditional hospitality centers, identifies the basic operational aspects of live esports tournaments and reviews career opportunities in the esports and hospitality industry.