A new learning tool takes field trips to kids.

Discover Technology — a giant bus — gives students a hands-on learning experience in the parking lot. The bus is full of robots, experiments and technology that entertain and educate.

“This is a great way to add more STEM education in the valley,” said Meridian schools superintendent Linda Clark, referring to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “We’re very excited about this partnership.”

Discover Technology has been busing education around North Idaho for two years. A second bus, unveiled on Monday, will service the Treasure Valley.

“It’s a mobile lab,” said Discover Technology projects manager Chad Houck, who was introduced at a Monday press conference by a robot named Beta (pictured below).

How it works

The bus pulls into a school parking lot for a full-day learning experience. The day begins with a 45-minute, school-wide assembly complete with a talking robot. Following the assembly, classes tour the bus. Each student spends about 30 minutes on the bus touching and moving a variety of science experiments. The assemblies and programs are customized, depending on the grade and skill level of the students.

Discover Technology is spending a full day at a Meridian elementary school this week, along with a charter school and a home-school co-op.

Discover Technology also offers summer camps.

Disclaimer: Discover Technology and Idaho Education News are both funded by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.