Grade Level and Subject Taught: 5th and 6th grade Gifted and Talented 

An Inside Look: My Transformative Externship with Exyte
I recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in an externship with Exyte, a leading firm in design, construction, and engineering. They’re currently working on a massive project: building Micron’s new chip manufacturing facility. Stepping into this externship, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. But after going through the necessary security clearance training, my days were packed with fascinating activities.

Diving Deep into Construction Tech
My time at Exyte offered an immersive dive into the cutting-edge technologies that are revolutionizing the construction industry. I got hands-on experience with the sophisticated software Exyte uses to create 3D models of the build site. A significant part of my role involved walking the site with different team members, capturing 3D videos to document the progress of various completed sections. One of the highlights was definitely getting to fly the company’s drone, taking aerial videos and photos to keep everyone updated on construction progress.

I was also introduced to a suite of software programs essential for uploading, converting, and importing all the different videos and images. This allowed users to visually track construction progress through date-compared images and videos. And get this – I even had the chance to work with Exyte’s robotic dogs on-site! These amazing machines walk the work areas, capturing LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) images of the construction zones.

Real-World Skills and the Future of STEM
This externship truly opened my eyes to the multitude of real-world technologies used on a modern construction site. I gained firsthand experience understanding the value of specific qualities essential for success in this field. These include:

• Strategic Planning: The critical importance of creating detailed plans and models before finalizing any product.
• Effective Collaboration: How vital it is for multiple teams to work together seamlessly, ensuring everyone understands the mission and what needs to be accomplished.
• Safety First: A profound appreciation for the absolute importance of safety on a construction site.
• Tech Savvy: Understanding and effectively utilizing the technology that ensures clear and relevant information for both design and construction.

Working with drones and robots alone showed me just how crucial it is for students to develop strong math and science skills in school. The use of AI and LiDAR technology specifically highlighted the value of teaching the precise mathematical and scientific skills that students will need to thrive in STEM-related jobs.

Bringing the Future Back to the Classroom
Overall, this externship was an incredible experience. It provided me with practical, real-world knowledge and skills that I’m excited to bring back to my students. I can now show them firsthand how learning specific math and scientific skills is absolutely vital for success in real-world careers. I’m also thrilled to share my experiences and demonstrate that working with robots and drones isn’t just science fiction—it’s a genuine and growing career field!