BALSAM LAKE - The Unity School District technology education department is ever changing to meet the demands of industry along with introducing students to the latest technology found in the workforce.
The first trimester in technology education at Unity focused on construction, woods and 3D design classes. Like most years, in the woods class, students learned how to safely use common woodworking tools to make projects like wooden mallets, cutting boards and side tables. Besides tool knowledge, students also learned wood characteristics. This year Mr. Lee brought in his portable sawmill to show students where the wood they were using came from and how to sustainably harvest lumber. He also gave a hands-on demo for both his woods class and Mrs. Jagielo’s forestry classes on how to mill lumber. In the construction class, students learned the basic concepts of residential construction framing, which culminated in building playhouses for local community members using lumber milled from trees that were in the local dump. In the advanced CAD class, students designed, prototyped and created several projects, including new and improved push sticks for use on the table saw, credit-card-style multitools and mini portable grills. Students toured Schaffer Manufacturing where they learned about the design process and even saw parts for student projects being cut out with the equipment there.
Second trimester proved to be just as exciting with cabinetmaking and crafts classes. Groups of students in cabinetmaking created their own businesses where they had meetings with actual clients to build a piece of furniture for them. Some of the projects included entertainment centers, entryway lockers, a foot locker and even a bunk bed. Students learned a lot about how to properly communicate with a client and the importance of sticking to a schedule. Crafts class is like an introductory to technology education classes for the nontraditional tech. ed. student. In class, students learned how to design projects on the computer to be cut out with the laser engraver or printed using the 3D printer. They also learned some skills in woodworking, electrical and metal forming while making projects like light-up marquee letters and copper roses. Their skills were put to the test when they had to design and make brain-teaser puzzles.
The third trimester is going to be just as exciting as the rest. In small engines classes, students will be learning how two- and four-stroke engines work and how to diagnose problems. They also may try their hands at designing and printing or laser cutting needed parts. New this year is the jobsite construction class. Students were selected to work with Carlson Construction for two hours a day on their jobsite. This will prove to be a valuable hands-on opportunity for students to see what the construction industry is all about.
The Unity SkillsUSA chapter is moving along strong, as well. Interest seems to increase each year, and this year the chapter has 22 members. Over half of these members took part in the fall leadership workshop held in Wisconsin Dells. All of the Skills members are very active with most of them excited for the opportunity to compete at state at the end of April. Keep your eyes and ears open for the Unity Skills Car Show May 21, rain date May 28.
The Unity technology education program is ever evolving, and it is exciting to see what next school year's classes and the SkillsUSA chapter will be up to. - story submitted by Jake Lee, Unity Middle School/High School technology education teacher
