Exposing students to the possibilities of engineering and technology could inspire the future’s best inventors. loans-cash.net  

With the realm of career possibilities nearly endless in these fields, the engineering and tech education department is trying to push for more field experiences for their students, according to Wood Shop teacher Shane Waters. 

“Sometimes students don’t even know that half these jobs exist, and you get to see what other jobs are out there and what makes the world work, and it’s beneficial for them,” Waters said 

There are three teachers currently working at the middle school with their students. Next year they will transfer back to the high school.

 Right now teacher Tyler Martin has metal tech classes as well as construction classes. Waters has the wood technology and EPT (energy power and transportation) classes, and JC Lewis teaches the engineering and CAD courses.

Waters, Lewis and Martin encourage students to enroll in these courses, so they can expand their skills and step outside their comfort zones.

“You might have no woodworking experience, but it could be something that you’ve always wanted to learn…take Wood Tech 1, it is a great starting point, they teach the basics of what a wood shop looks like and how it operates…,”  Lewis said. “We want to get you in a position where you can come out of our classes and jump right into the workforce using those skills, whether it be, woodworking, welding, or construction.”

Lewis and the other teachers came together and decided to take trips to expose the students to possible futures. 

The field trips are offered to give students a hands-on experience and to look at what might be happening in everyday businesses. All students must do is fill out a form and be willing to make up the work they could miss throughout the day.

Sophomore Eli DePalmer went on the engineering YCAL trip in February. 

“Beforehand, we selected four classes that we could go to, but then only went to three,” DePalmer said. “I chose STEM, economics, art and audiovisual design. In the morning, we went to those three classes for about 30 minutes each and then we grouped back together, had a conference with a few people who worked in different fields, and then we got to go look at colleges and possible career paths in the classes.” 

Anyone who takes these courses will have a chance to determine if it is a career path that they would be interested in pursuing after high school.

 “Field trips will be taken throughout the year that accommodate the classes students might choose,” Lewis said. “You have the opportunity to go to different businesses, companies, and partners in our school district.””

On these field trips, students had the opportunity to apply for positions; there were a few businesses offering apprenticeships, and there was also the U.S. Army Reserve.

 Positions would require students to possibly work right out of high school or to have to get further education, depending on their interests, that might require a two or four-year degree.

If any students are interested in taking these courses in the future, students should discuss schedule changes with their counselor.