MONROE - Monroe senior Alexa Yurs credits the Project Lead the Way class at Monroe High School for making her career path clearer.
Yurs, along with sophomore Zach Wren and senior Cameron Studer, joined high school technology-engineering teacher Ed Neumann to give a presentation on Project Lead the Way Introduction to Engineering class to the Monroe School Board Monday.
Yurs said she was debating a career in engineering or as a biology teacher.
"I am terrified of power tools," Yurs said. "It (Project Lead the Way Introduction to Engineering) was helpful in making up my mind."
The Monroe School District received a $35,000 grant over three years from the Kern Foundation to implement several engineering classes with the inaugural class this year. The district received $10,000 this year to implement the Introduction to Engineering class, which is in its first course.
Neumann said the course is 10 percent theory, revolving around algebra and trigonometry, and 90 percent application. The bulk of the cost of the course is for a computer software program that students use to allow them to create various dimensional objects. The trio of students presented a puzzle cube they designed and assembled and a train and engine car project that they designed and assembled. The students complete the drawings with the software program and had the opportunity to experiment with moving parts while assembling the projects. The students are able to set up gears for their trains and can test their efficiency to gauge if they are installed properly.
Neumann said students who were initially fearful of taking a course in a technology education field are now taking the class, which has two sections. She also added that if the district becomes certified, students at the high school could take courses and receive three college level credits for them.
"We are working really hard to make sure we hit all the benchmarks," Neumann said.
Neumann said the credits would transfer to the University of Illinois or Iowa. But he said the UW-system colleges don't currently accept transfer credits for Project Lead the Way classes. However, he expects that will change.
"We are hoping the UW system will adopt this as transferable credits," Neumann said.
Students are now working on a a reverse engineering project that requires them to dissect a product and recreate it with improvements.
Neumann said students are required to maintain a notebook of projects and a portfolio of their best work. He said the course emphasizes the process for creating a product and being able to sell it.
Next year, the high school will receive $15,000 from the Kern Foundation to implement a Principles of Engineering course. In two years, the school will receive $10,000 and will offer a digital electronics course.
Neumann said after the grant ends, the courses will have to be supported by the school district.
"The majority of the costs are for the software lease," Neumann said.
Yurs, along with sophomore Zach Wren and senior Cameron Studer, joined high school technology-engineering teacher Ed Neumann to give a presentation on Project Lead the Way Introduction to Engineering class to the Monroe School Board Monday.
Yurs said she was debating a career in engineering or as a biology teacher.
"I am terrified of power tools," Yurs said. "It (Project Lead the Way Introduction to Engineering) was helpful in making up my mind."
The Monroe School District received a $35,000 grant over three years from the Kern Foundation to implement several engineering classes with the inaugural class this year. The district received $10,000 this year to implement the Introduction to Engineering class, which is in its first course.
Neumann said the course is 10 percent theory, revolving around algebra and trigonometry, and 90 percent application. The bulk of the cost of the course is for a computer software program that students use to allow them to create various dimensional objects. The trio of students presented a puzzle cube they designed and assembled and a train and engine car project that they designed and assembled. The students complete the drawings with the software program and had the opportunity to experiment with moving parts while assembling the projects. The students are able to set up gears for their trains and can test their efficiency to gauge if they are installed properly.
Neumann said students who were initially fearful of taking a course in a technology education field are now taking the class, which has two sections. She also added that if the district becomes certified, students at the high school could take courses and receive three college level credits for them.
"We are working really hard to make sure we hit all the benchmarks," Neumann said.
Neumann said the credits would transfer to the University of Illinois or Iowa. But he said the UW-system colleges don't currently accept transfer credits for Project Lead the Way classes. However, he expects that will change.
"We are hoping the UW system will adopt this as transferable credits," Neumann said.
Students are now working on a a reverse engineering project that requires them to dissect a product and recreate it with improvements.
Neumann said students are required to maintain a notebook of projects and a portfolio of their best work. He said the course emphasizes the process for creating a product and being able to sell it.
Next year, the high school will receive $15,000 from the Kern Foundation to implement a Principles of Engineering course. In two years, the school will receive $10,000 and will offer a digital electronics course.
Neumann said after the grant ends, the courses will have to be supported by the school district.
"The majority of the costs are for the software lease," Neumann said.