BonnerSprings.com

Last week we finished a successful year at the high school in the department that was once called "industrial arts." Names have changed, people have changed, society has changed but one thing has not changed: the business of teaching kids idea, design and product.

When I was in high school it was the same. We looked through department store catalogues at furniture to inspire the idea, then took it to a sketch with our own added creativity, used a T-square and pencil to exact our design and finally we began the process of a completed project.

Honestly, have things changed since my high school days? Of course. The biggest thing changing is technology in our department. I am guessing that is the reason for the change from "industrial arts" to "technology education" or at least part of the reason for the change. I like to use comparisons when I teach so I will use one here; imagine asking your son or daughter to sit down while you drag out an old Atari game you got as a gift when you were young. Your expectations are high because you think they will "freak out" because it is so cool, because that is what you did. But instead, they look at it, chuckle, answer a text message and change songs on their iPod; you get the picture.

Times are changing and, as teachers, this is what we compete against every single day. Granted, it is not possible to fall into this crazy world and compete on this level when it comes to technology. But we are expected to at least give it a shot. So why do I feel big stuff is happening in the Bonner Springs High School industrial technology department? Mostly because, as teachers, we see that times have changed. Past thinking skills are still very important today, but also with a new twist of technology. We used to teach going from an idea to a pencil drawing to a product. Now, we teach going from idea to computer drawing to product, completed on an advanced technology SawStop table saw, a three-blade stack Powermatic Shaper and a DeWalt compound mitre saw. This summer we are adding a ShopBot 48-inch by 96-inch CNC router to use on anything from cutting one part to a hundred parts in a mass production project. The metals program is also adding the Briggs and Stratton small engine course. Things are changing and the students are taking pride in the change.

A new table saw, a fancy CNC and a small engine program will not change students or work miracles alone. Adding real-life technology into the curriculum will give us a better chance. You never know who you might inspire. That goes for anyone at anytime, but as teachers we have the chance to inspire people who are the most vulnerable to inspiration. I really like new tools driven by advanced technology, but I really love to see kids who have twice the ability I do to utilize this technology way beyond my expectations. I encourage the community to stop in and see the change, what I call the "big stuff" that is happening at BSHS industrial technology department.

- Kris G. Munsch is the woods/drafting/robotics instructor at Bonner Springs High School. He can be reached at munschk@ usd204.k12.ks.us.

Comments