DIGITS, a sixth-grade STEM education/awareness program that pairs STEM professionals with sixth-grade classes throughout the state, has opened registration for schools and teachers for its fifth year.  Last year, DIGITS reached 22% of Massachusetts sixth graders through 187 volunteers from 60 companies/organizations/state agencies.

Oak Hill Middle School Science Teacher, Norma Sullivan, has hosted DIGITS professionals for classroom presentations for the past 4 years, and Oak Hill now has three teachers who participate in DIGITS.  Norma Sullivan says of the program,

“DIGITS does a wonderful job making what students learn authentic.  The volunteers, who come from a STEM-related field, share their personal career stories and explain what they do and how they use math and science in their jobs. Additionally they discuss the attributes/benefits of working in a STEM career. DIGITS utilizes a unique concept in which a STEM icon is embedded in every letter of the alphabet.  The alphabet evolved into a set of student activities that are used to stimulate student interest in STEM subjects and expand their knowledge of STEM careers.”