Mobile STEM classroom brings technology access to rural Ohio

By Farah Siddiqi

Students in rural Ohio communities are getting hands-on lessons in science and technology thanks to the Ohio 4-H Mobile Design Classroom.

The 35-foot bus is traveling to schools, fairs, and libraries to help bridge the state’s digital divide.

Christy Millhouse, 4-H STEM Educator for Ohio State University Extension, said the classroom exposes young people to opportunities they might not otherwise have.

"The exciting thing about our mobile classroom is that it's a way to not only take OSU out into communities all over Ohio, but it's also a way to take 4-H out and introduce young people to maybe a different side of the 4-H program," Millhouse explained.

About one in three households in Appalachian Ohio lack reliable internet access, according to Connecting Appalachia. Advocates said the gap leaves many young people at a disadvantage when preparing for future education and careers.

Millhouse recalled how one child’s experience on the bus highlighted the effects of better access.

"I had one young person, this summer we were making stop-motion videos," Millhouse noted. "He told me as he was getting off the bus, he's like, 'thank you so much for being here, because this is what I wanna do when I grow up, and thanks for sharing this with me.'"

The Mobile Design Classroom, funded with grants and technology donations, is scheduled to visit 30 towns and cities in 26 counties this year. Millhouse added the program also partners with groups such as the Ohio School for the Deaf and with cancer researchers through the CAMELOT project at Ohio State, adapting STEM lessons to promote accessibility and healthy living.