The 2026 - 2027 Initiatives
The High Tech Talent Initiative is an ongoing effort to provide students with hands-on, high-impact STEM experiences. This initiative is sponsored by the Lockwood STEM Center and Hemlock Semicondutor. Our mission is to equip STEM teachers with the training, resources, and tools they need to be successful in the classroom and inspire the next generation of STEM learners.
These workshops are provided free of charge to educators and their school districts.
Every participant in this workshop will receive:
A class set of micro:bits, battery packs, and USB cords.
Lunch provided by Lockwood STEM Alliance at each session.
Session I: Introduction to micro:bit using Microsoft MakeCode Studio, integrating micro:bits into curriculum, and developing a classroom project.
Session 2: Additional classroom applications, and sharing classroom projects.
Registration Fee: $0.00
Participants must agree to attend both full-day sessions to be held at the Lockwood STEM Center, 700 N. Pine Street in Hemlock, MI. Sessions will run from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Dates:
Friday, October 9, 2026
Friday, November 13, 2026
Please fill out the registration form by Monday, September 21, 2026.
Every participant in this workshop will receive:
A class set of 14 Sphero Minis and USB cords.
Lunch provided by Lockwood STEM Alliance at each session.
Teachers will learn the basics of Sphero Mini robotics and coding through hands-on activities, exploring easy-to-use programming tools and standards-aligned STEM challenges they can implement with K–5 students.
Teachers will apply their Sphero skills to engineering design challenges and real-world STEM applications, developing engaging, career-connected lessons that encourage students to problem-solve, create, test, and improve their solutions.
Registration Fee: $0.00
Participants must agree to attend both full-day sessions to be held at the Lockwood STEM Center, 700 N. Pine Street in Hemlock, MI. Sessions will run from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Dates:
Friday, October 23, 2026
Friday, November 20, 2026
Please fill out the registration form by Friday, September 25, 2026.
Every participant in this workshop will receive:
Bambu Lab A1 3D printer to take back to your school.
1 full day of CAD instruction.
1 full day of 3D Printer assembly and instruction.
Lunch provided by Lockwood STEM Alliance at each session.
Registration Fee: $0.00
Participants must agree to attend both full-day sessions to be held at the Lockwood STEM Center, 700 N. Pine Street in Hemlock, MI. Sessions will run from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM
You may bring another teacher from your district but they will not receive another printer.
Dates:
TBD
Enrollment is limited to 10 educators.
Every participant in this workshop will receive:
Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer to take back to your team.
1 full day of CAD instruction.
1 full day of 3D Printer assembly and instruction.
1 full day of advanced 3D Print instruction and competition season review.
Lunch provided by Lockwood STEM Alliance at each session.
Registration Fee: $0.00
Participants must agree to attend all three full-day sessions to be held at the Lockwood STEM Center, 700 N. Pine Street in Hemlock, MI. Sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Printers will be distribued and assembled as part of Session 2.
Please bring a student and/or another mentor from your team. Remember to follow FIRST youth safety protocols for student transportation and participation and any other school policy as it relates to communicating with or spending time with students.
Dates:
To be determined.
Enrollment is limited to 10 FIRST Robotics teams.
please email: lockwood@hemlockps.com - more information coming soon!
What is a High Tech Talent Work Group?
The mission of the High Tech Talent WorkGroup is to find and develop projects that will be impactful and yet easy for teachers to use. This effort will result in a "STEM Pilot" program, where teacher training can be provided at the STEM Labs at the Lockwood STEM Center or other locations. There will be an overarching theme of "mobility" and "electrification" as funding has been provided by MICHAuto and the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.
Members
Team members include educators and industry professionals who are committed to developing high-tech talent in Michigan and are passionate about providing students with the best opportunities for success.
Feel free to click on members' images or names to see their stories!