Exploring the Real-World Engineering Process: A Field Trip to Roto

At Acton Academy Columbus, hands-on learning is at the heart of everything we do. Our learners don’t just read about science, technology, engineering, and math—they live it. They become engineers, entrepreneurs, architects, bakers, detectives, physicists, and innovators. So when we had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes field trip to Roto, a creative design and engineering company, we knew it would be the perfect chance for our Eagles to see what this kind of work looks like in the real world.

Roto is a nationally recognized firm (located in Dublin, Ohio) that designs and builds immersive, interactive museum exhibits and experiences for some of the most renowned institutions around the world. Their team includes artists, engineers, designers, and storytellers—all working together to bring ideas to life in ways that engage and educate.

Our learners got a firsthand look at that process—from the earliest brainstorming sessions and prototypes to the final, built exhibits that end up in museums and science centers. But this wasn’t a sit-and-watch field trip. True to Acton style, our Eagles jumped in. They explored exhibits, played with interactive elements, and gave real-time user feedback to help Roto's team refine their designs.

This experience brought the engineering design process to life. Our learners saw how creativity and technical skill come together through ideation, iteration, prototyping, testing, and problem-solving—not in a textbook, but in a vibrant studio filled with real-world challenges. They got to be part of the loop, recognizing how much engineers value feedback, how designs are constantly refined, and how mistakes are seen not as failures but as learning opportunities.

STEM education is about more than mastering formulas and facts. It's about learning how to think like an engineer: to ask good questions, to test ideas, to solve problems, and to improve upon them over time. This trip helped cement that mindset. It reminded our learners that the process matters just as much as the product—and that their ideas and perspectives have value, even to professionals.

Huge thanks to the team at Roto for opening your doors, sharing your process, and treating our learners like fellow engineers. You didn’t just inspire the next generation of innovators—you gave them the tools to imagine themselves in that future.