Tech Directions - October 2007 - (Page 2)

technically speaking Susanne Peckham susanne@techdirections.com An interesting article published in August in The Buffalo News recently came to my attention. The article, subtitled “Emphasis on College-Prep Academics Leaves Many Students Without Job Skills,” describes a dawning awareness among New York policymakers and school leaders of the critical need for increasing support and opportunities for career and technical education. Due to the testing provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, along with the state’s own increasingly rigorous graduation requirements, New York has placed great emphasis on academic achievement, especially in English and math. As a result, notes the article, students interested in careers in such fields as building trades and automotive mechanics have in fact been “left behind.” Superintendent James Williams, who vows to rebuild Buffalo’s CTE program, notes, “We started raising standards and adding more requirements, and something had to fall off the plate. What that’s done is push a certain percentage of our population out.” Another superintendent comments, “We overreacted. The bent became preparing kids for college—period. It’s nice for him to be exposed to it, but it isn’t necessary for a mechanic to quote Shakespeare while he’s fixing a car.” Representatives of business and industry weigh in, pointing to the increased challenge of finding skilled employees. The head of a Buffalo metal fabrication company states that “it’s become more and more difficult to find qualified people. It was bad 10 years ago, and it’s even worse now.” In response to these concerns, policymakers who designed the reform plan that heavily emphasizes academics now say they will rebuild CTE. As one sign of their commitment, the state Board of Regents is currently studying ways to expand CTE opportunities, with hopes of having a plan formulated within a year. Regents chancellor Robert Bennett says, “The board is taking a very serious renewed interest in this. It keeps popping up that school is not interesting, that it’s not relevant enough. Kids don’t see the connection between high school and a job.” Positive changes have already taken place at the local level. For example, Buffalo has committed to a $30 to $40 million renovation of Burgard Vocational High School that will provide state-of-the-art facilities for automotive technology, welding, building management, CAD, and machining. Buffalo administrators are also looking into the possibility of incorporating expanded CTE opportunities into plans for a longer school day. And the Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) has begun giving students academic credit for CTE courses that incorporate math, English, and other academic content. One important benefit of the efforts to strengthen CTE is reflected in the comments of Rosemary Conley, director of career development services at Erie 1 BOCES: “The best part of my job is seeing kids find their niche. There are more ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ than you can imagine.” A Prakken Publications Magazine Tech Directions (ISSN 1062-9351) is published monthly, except June, July and December, by Prakken Publications, Inc., 832 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Executive, editorial, and advertising offices are at PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623, telephone 734-975-2800; fax 734-975-2787. Vol. 67, No. 3. Customers will also receive one electronic issue in December. 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 ©2007 by Prakken Publications, Inc. 2 techdirections ◆ OCTOBER 2007 http://www.il.proquest.com http://www.napubco.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - October 2007

Tech Directions - October 2007 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology Today Technology’s Past Mastering Computers Rock Your Classroom!—Use Subwoofers to Teach Electricity and Science Sure, They Can Build It, But. . . . Manufacturing Students Need Process Planning Skills Teach Graphic Design Basics with PowerPoint Free Teacher Resources Product Central More than Fun

Tech Directions - October 2007

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