The new Career and Technical Education teacher at Whisconier Middle School, Michael Zaiko, brought the idea to launch a Robotics and 3D Printing Program to the Brookfield Education Foundation for support. Funded by the BEF in January of 2026, the new program will provide students in grades 6 – 8 with hands-on STEM learning through robotics, coding, engineering design and 3D printing.  Integrated into the tech ed classes, the program will allow students to design and build projects while developing skills in programming, problem-solving, and collaboration.

This initiative immerses students in authentic, real-world learning experiences similar to those found in engineering labs, manufacturing environments, and technology startups. Students will engage in product research and idea development, CAD design and 3D modeling, robotics construction and programming, testing and troubleshooting, team-based problem-solving, and basic production planning. Students will guide projects from concept to completion, learning from both successes and challenges.  All participating students will have hands-on exposure to robotics and manufacturing technologies regardless of prior experience or background, helping to reduce barriers to entry in technical and engineering fields. Additionally, the program helps establish a strong pipeline from middle school to high school CTE programs and robotics teams.