AASHTO Journal - Oklahoma DOT Sets Up STEM Teacher Workshop Schedule

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently set the schedule for free transportation-focused science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM workshops for teachers for the 2026-2027 school year.

[Above photo by the Oklahoma DOT]

Launched in August 2024, Oklahoma DOT said its STEM Outreach Program provides kindergarten through 12th grade teachers with training, resources, and hands-on activities designed for use in the classroom. During the workshops, teachers complete the STEM activities from a student’s perspective – giving them firsthand experience with each lesson and helping them confidently incorporate transportation-focused STEM concepts into their classrooms.

The agency said each workshop is hosted by Oklahoma DOT in partnership with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials at various locations across the state and provided at no cost to teachers or their schools.

[Editor’s note: AASHTO hosts an annual Bridge Challenge contest as part of its STEM Outreach Solutions technical service program as a way to further encourage students to explore engineering-related transportation careers.]

Following the training, each participant is eligible to select a STEM kit – which can focus on bridge design or construction to highway traffic safety and traffic technology – to keep and use at their school. Oklahoma DOT noted that it purchases the kits and ships them directly to participating schools.

“Introducing students to STEM concepts early gives them an opportunity to connect what they learn in the classroom with the world around them,” said Kala Fowler, the agency’s STEM Outreach Program manager, in a statement. “By giving teachers hands-on resources and training, we can help students explore transportation and engineering in a way that is engaging, practical and relevant while also showing them career possibilities they may not have considered before.”

In addition to teacher workshops and classroom kits, Oklahoma DOT’s STEM Outreach Program offers field trip opportunities to Oklahoma DOT’s Sign Shop and Materials Laboratory. Schools also may request Oklahoma DOT engineers to participate in classroom lessons or speak with students about engineering, transportation, and STEM careers, the agency said.