As the demand for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs increases, area schools are looking to give students an edge and educate them about the “real world” opportunities that lie ahead.

On Tuesday, 100 educators gathered at Old Rochester Regional High School for the first annual South Coast STEM Conference.

There, teachers and students presented successful projects and lessons within the STEM framework.

“It’s really important for educators to get out there and share across a geographic area what they’re doing, what projects work,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos.

ORR science instructor Charlie Howie came with students Harry Terpeny and Cal Costa.

Likened to Thomas Edison by their teacher, the pair worked after school on an experiment that turned potatoes into batteries.

Terpeny said what started out as an extra credit paper ended up as an “in depth study of what we were doing in class. It’s interesting when you do it on your own.”

Old Hammondtown School fourth grade teacher Kevin Tevares brought resources related to his long-term gardening project, including raised beds in the school’s courtyard and hydroponic gardening.

“It’s great for kids to see where food comes from,” said Tevares.

He said the garden incorporates all four STEM categories and also provides food for senior citizens in town.

ORR Junior High teacher Scott McElroy and student Alex Wurl demonstrated a 3D printer and said students learn to design objects and print them in mere weeks.

Other schools and organizations, such as New Bedford High School, the Boston Children’s Museum and the New Bedford Symphony also had representatives on hand to discuss ways they incorporate STEM into their education programs.

Participants learned about the tri-town “vertical learning team” that seeks to align science teaching from the elementary level to high school.

Design was also a topic of interest as was a welded sculpture of a turkey created by Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School student Collin Stellato, who made it in his spare time.

“There’s a big movement towards welding as art,” said Old Colony teacher Ryan Robidoux.

Art is one thing that is going to pick up steam, literally, in next year’s conference said Frangos. Next year STEM is likely to be STEAM with the addition of art.

Engineering and design, she said, “connects a lot with art.”

The educators also discussed ways to incorporate engineering into each grade level, incentivizing students to engage in STEM and providing information on career pathways through partnerships.

Next year the goal is to have 200 in attendance.

“It was a great initial start,” Frangos said. “We’ve launched the rocket and we need to add more fuel.”