June 12, 2025 -- As summer break kicked off, dozens of CCS educators traded textbooks and laptops for lab coats and hairnets. Ready to learn, these educators stepped into The Ohio State University (OSU) labs for a hands-on day of learning in food science.
As part of STEAMM Rising, this professional development took place at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Teachers explored advanced scientific practices like microbial testing, product development, and data analysis. They learned how to break these concepts into simple, classroom-ready lessons.
By translating these complex lab activities into engaging classroom projects, educators equip students with real-world skills in observation, analysis, and problem-solving—starting as early as elementary school. The end goal is to equip teachers with practical tools to spark students' interest in new and unexpected fields.
"I am enjoying the experiences with STEAMM Rising," said Jodi Butler, teacher at Shady Lane Elementary. "These experiences have opened my eyes to the fact that our students need more exposure [to the sciences] so that they will know what [career options in that field] they can pick."
From the moment CCS educators arrived, OSU staff guided them through a fast-paced rotation of workshops simulating various roles and careers in the food industry.
"During STEAMM Rising, teachers say, 'I didn't know this field existed,' or, 'I wouldn't have known how to talk to students who might have had an interest in this,'" said CCS Supervisor of Math and Innovation, Pam Artrip. "That's what has been so important, making sure that teachers and students have access and awareness of STEAMM fields."
During the first class, teachers served as a mock focus group. With gloves on and hairnets tight, they created new popcorn flavors, offered feedback using key marketing terms, and learned how companies design packaging to communicate flavor, freshness, and brand identity.
Instructors lead them through the psychology of product design, providing tips to turn this knowledge into project-based learning for students.
"We are equipping CCS educators with firsthand knowledge of the diverse and dynamic opportunities within food science," said Academic Program Manager at OSU Tara Ciaciura. "There are pathways for every learner. [We hope to] introduce their students to the opportunities available in the food industry and to help them enhance their active and experiential learning portfolios."
In an engaging food safety exercise, CCS educators applied a special lotion to their hands and then washed them as they would typically. Under the guidance of OSU professors, they placed their hands under blacklight tools to reveal the germs they missed.
Using microscopes to take the learning a step further, instructors showed E. coli and salmonella samples under a microscope. The lesson demonstrated how pathogens spread and explained how lab teams develop and implement protocols for cleanliness.
"[STEAMM Rising] gives us more flexibility in our instruction beyond the book," said Linden-McKinley STEM Academy math teacher Kathy O'Donnell. "This provides us with different lenses to actually make the students think more critically."
The shifting perspective on the sciences, as the day progressed, is precisely what STEAMM Rising aims to spark. CCS educators are expanding their thoughts around instruction and how they guide students toward future opportunities.
"I'm learning about experiences kids could have in different career pathways," said Emily Mazur, math teacher at Columbus Alternative High School. "Now, when students share what they're interested in, I'll be able to direct them to those things. There's a whole world of opportunities in the sciences now that I can direct them to look into."
As the day closed, CCS educators hung up their lab coats, hairnets, and safety glasses. Signing out for the day, these educators are heading home with new ideas, strategies, and inspiration for their classrooms next year
