Tech Directions - February 2008 - (Page 2)

technically speaking Susanne Peckham susanne@techdirections.com This is the last issue in which Tom Frawley will be listed as a member of the Tech Directions Editorial Advisory Board. A former editor of New York State Technology Teacher, he will continue teaching and contributing articles to Tech Directions but needs at present to devote more time to family concerns. I want to thank Tom for his service to this magazine, and I thought it fitting to share here with readers comments from a letter he forwarded to me last summer that he had recently published in the Syracuse Post-Standard. Here’s some of what Tom had to say: “The recent editorial, “Fund Solutions, Not Talk” suggested that, “one way of solving the dropout crisis is to support programs that work.” One need look no further than career and technical education (CTE). CTE and technology education connect kids with real world experiences and answers the question, “Why do we have to learn this stuff?” Students learn to be innovative as they design solutions to problems and engineer them in hands-on applications. They learn about tools, materials, and processes. A properly funded technology lab is a far cry from your father’s “wood shop,” as students design robots for competition, create energy-efficient vehicles, or run the school television station. Our schools suffer due to the unwillingness of leaders to fully support such programs that work. In my 30 years teaching technology education, I have seen my students achieve success in technical fields as architects, video game designers, audio engineers, and tech teachers. I am equally proud of my students who have taken jobs in industry as welders, machinists, pressmen, and electricians. Technology education is the key in STEM education. Our political leaders need to fund more than math, science, and engineering programs. The entrepreneurial spirit of America will reawaken when Congress recognizes that technology education teachers do more than any others to provide our nation with the high-tech workforce that we need to better compete in the global economy. States such as California are beginning to recognize the critical role that CTE has to play in the modern educational experience. Other states should follow its lead. Failure to fully support hands-on, minds-on learning is nothing less than turning our back on a third of the student population. If you want to solve the dropout crisis, support technology education, where learning comes alive!” Tom’s letter to the Post-Standard represents good advocacy for our field—and a good example of what any of us can do to increase awareness of and support for CTE and technology education. Thanks, Tom, for all you’ve done! A Prakken Publications Magazine Digital Tech Directions (ISSN 1940-3100) is published monthly, except June and July, by Prakken Publications, Inc., 832 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Executive, editorial, and advertising offices are at PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 481078623, telephone 734-975-2800; fax 734-975-2787. Vol. 67, No. 7. Board of Directors Turalee A. Barlow George F. Kennedy Janice E. Knope Susanne Peckham Publisher George F. Kennedy Assistant Publisher & Business Mgr. Turalee A. Barlow, tbarlow@techdirections.com Managing Editor Susanne Peckham, susanne@techdirections.com Associate Editor Pam Moore, pam@techdirections.com Art, Design, and Production Manager Sharon K. Miller Advertising Sales Representatives Tonya L. White, 800-5309673 x209, tonya@techdirections.com Richard J. Alden, 603-899-3010, fax: 603-899-2343. rjalden@ techdirections.com David A. Yetman, 603-878-4705;dyetman@techdirections.com Subscription Dept. Jan Bergey, jan@techdirections.com, 800-530-9673 x215 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Michael Fitzgerald, Technology Education Specialist, Office of Career and Technical Education, Indiana Dept. of Education, Indianapolis, IN Tom Frawley, Technology Education, G. Ray Bodley High School, Fulton, NY, and journal editor, New York State Technology Teacher Paul Koontz, President, Denford Inc., Medina, OH Ed Prevatt, School Specialist, National Center for Construction Education and Research, Gainesville, FL John Roccanova, Technology Education, Webutuck Central School, Amenia, NY Mark Schwendau, Technology Instructor, Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL PEER REVIEW BOARD Gregory G. Belcher, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Technical Teacher Education, Pittsburg State University, KS Daniel M. Claiborne, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology, Murray State University, KY Sam Cotton, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Ball State University, Muncie, IN Ronald F. Gonzales, Ph.D., ASE, Program Chair, Technology Teacher Education Professor, Brigham Young University, UT Robert T. Howell, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Technology Studies, Fort Hays State University, KS Robert D. Mordini, Ed.D., Asst. Professor, Technology Studies, Fort Hays State University, KS Richard Phillips, Ed.D., Division Chair, Technologies Division, Mountain Empire Community College, VA Joseph Scarcella, Ph.D., Professor of Education, California State University, San Bernadino Mark S. Schwendau, M.S., Technology Instructor, Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL Bert Siebold, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Industrial & Engineering Technology, Murray State University, KY Chris Zirkle, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, College of Education, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH Subscriptions: individuals: $30 per year; $55 two years; Canadian and foreign: add $10 per year. Canadian GST #R126213487. Single copies $3. Group rate for students in teacher-training institutions available upon request. Periodicals postage paid at Ann Arbor, MI, and additional mailing offices. Printed in U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address information to Tech Directions, PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623. Manuscripts should be addressed to: Editor, Tech Directions, PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623. Manuscripts become property of Tech Directions upon letter of acceptance to author and signed copyright release form. Payment made on publication. Electronic copies of back issues available from ProQuest Information and Learning, www.il.proquest.com. Microform copies available from NAPC, www.napubco.com ©2008 by Prakken Publications, Inc. 2 techdirections ◆ FEBRUARY 2008 http://www.il.proquest.com http://www.napubco.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - February 2008

Tech Directions - February 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers How Engineers Engineer—Lessons from My First Big Engineering Project Tips on Creating Complex Geometry Using Solid Modeling Software Press to Test—Shop-Built BJT Checker Is Easy Cable Television Technician International Technology Education Association Conference—Teaching TIDE with Pride Professional Development Opportunities Product Central Free for the Asking More than Fun

Tech Directions - February 2008

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