AJ School News

March 10, 2010

Engineered to win

By Adam Roberts aroberts@theabingtonjournal.com
Reporter / Photographer

As a college major, engineering requires a strong science and mathematics background. An engineering background doesn’t hurt either.

That’s exactly what a group of students at Lakeland Jr./Sr. High School are getting through the Penn State funded Project Lead the Way program. The grant will eventually give Lakeland students access to four-levels of engineering courses while still in high school.

“It’s designed to inspire and draw students in to the engineering field,” said Bill Freeman, a technical education teacher at Lakeland.

In its first year at Lakeland, the first level “Introduction to Engineering Design,” is offered. Next year, those students will be eligible to enroll in “Principles of Engineering.” For juniors and seniors more advanced and specific courses will be available, but Freeman and the district have not selected what classes they will offer.

Freeman explained that the specific exposure to engineer projects gives students a true idea of what they can expect if they pursue a degree in the field.

Freeman has about 40 students in two sections of “Introduction to Engineering Design.” Those students use a professional engineering computer program to reverse engineer a common product. They then learn to reassemble it virtually and design an improvement.

“It’s a very intensive and extremely positive course,” said Freeman.

The work thus far has paid off for Freeman’s classes as a group of students took part in the Third Annual Design Challenge on Feb. 19 in Reading.

Tyler Piatt, Tyler Stracham, JJ Rojenches, Kyle Cosgrove and Matt Clum earned the first place prize for presentation, one of four first place awards.

The competition was a mystery to the students until they arrived.

“They all sat down at a table and they were given what can only be described as a box of stuff,” said Freeman.

Using the box of wood, paperclips, hand tools and a few other items as well as a laptop, the students were given three hours to engineer a working windmill. The windmill needed to start on its own and produce a measurable amount of electricity.

While the engineering took place, Freeman took a spot with his fellow instructors and was forbidden to speak with his students.

“All the work that was done was student work,” Freeman said.

Once the work was complete the groups used their turbine and presented about their project. As the program grows, Freeman expects to bring even more experienced students to next year’s competition.

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