Times Advocate, 1997-12-10, Page 17Second Section - December 10 1997
Huron County students prepare for 21st century at Tech 21
Above, The Tech 21 classroom
at Clinton District Secondary
School is accessed by all grade
7 and 8 students in Huron
County. The high-tech class-
room exposes students to the
technology waiting for them in
the 21st century.
Pizza time. Making a pizza,
including the use of a bread
maker is part of the food and
nutrition module. Clockwise
.from left: Cody Roger,
Cassandra Phillip, Matt Prout
and Carrie Prout enjoy the fruit
of their afternoon's work.
Although the girls already had
pizza -making experience, it was
the first try for the guys
who promised they'd
put their skills to use
at home. All four
agreed the pizza turned
out better than the •
morning's "hockey
puck muffins."
Bottom left: Kristi Bray
received a helping
hand from her teacher
Kim Ryckman with sign
making during Usbome
Central School's visit
to the Tech 21
classroom.
Bottom right: Katie
Lang (left) and Leah
Fyvie were disassem-
bling and reassembling
a small engine in the
small engines/gears module.
'3999.
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SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO'S HOME THEATRE HEADQUARTERS
63 Main St. S. Exeter Phone/Fax: 235-0003
By Kate Monk
TA Reporter
CLINTON - There's a classroom in Huron County students
love to enter and hate to leave. A classroom where they can
work for more than two hours. at a time and not become rest-
less. A classroom with very few discipline problems.
Where is this Shangri'Ia of learning? The Technology 21
Centre at the Clinton District Secondary School.
Rather than having the traditional home economics and
"shop" studies in each school, the Huron County Board of
Education has put its resources into a broad base technology
program with four main areas of study: design, communica-
tion, personal care and manufacturing/control systems.
Tech 21 services grade 7 and 8 students in Huron County and.
has been in operation for four years. Students visit the center
six times per year, completing a total of 12 modules. They must
complete at least two modules in each area.
"Tech 21 is equal for every student in grade 7 and 8. It gives
them a taste of everything," Betty -Jean Talbot, one of the
instructors at Tech 21 said, adding the program helps students
plan into the next century.
•The center is based on the philosophy of cooperative
problem -solving. The modules the students work at are
designed to be completed with minimal instruction from the
teacher. Harry Brooks, Mark Rinaldi Ross and Talbot are pre-
sent to facilitate the smooth operation of Tech 21.
When working at the modules, students are expected to help
each other and work together to solve their problems. After
students have tried alternatives, they may turn on the call light
located at each module and a teacher will be there to help.
"Kids love coming," Talbot said. "There are very few disci
aline problems."
'Learning is very much a hands-on experience. Tools include
woodworking equipment, kitchen appliances, sign -making and,
engraving machines with. nearly everything hooked up to a
computer.
Even the traditional sewing classes have taken a leap for-
ward with a computerized sewing machine. The engraving and
sign -making equipment are identical to what is, used in
industry. . _
"If a student applies for a job, at an engraving shop, he can
say "I've used the machine ybu're using," which should help
him get' a job," Brooks explained. •
With the large number of modules, studept$ cross traditional
lines with boys learning how to cook and sew while girls learn
about robotics and electricity.
Because technology is evolving so quickly, the modules are
changirig as well.
"We have to keep on top .of things. We'.re always revising and
revamping," Talbot said. *'
The classroom can hold 64 students and the teachers usually
bring as many children as will fit on a school bus.
Last Wednesday, Usbome Central School brought all their
Gr. 7 and 8 students.
Usbome teacher Kim Ryckmari said she integrates what the
students learn at Tech 21 into the classroom lessons. For exam-,
ple, students can create a computer presentation using
PowerPoint about a novel they had been studying in school.
Ryckman said the program also facilitates peer tutoring with
students helping each other.
"The students have a real sense of accomplishment from
their time here," Ryckman explained, adding the students will 1
often make something they can take home with them.
Consistent with its high-tech emphasis, Tech 21 has a Website
at www.huroned.edu.on.ca/TECH-21. Students and parents
can visit the Website ahead of time to learn more about the
modules the students can choose.
Program
Modules
Design
• Tabs for
Windows
• Stage
Production
• Robotics
• Landscaping
Personal
Care
• Fashion Design
• Childcare
• Food -and
Nutrition
• Life
Management
Communi-
cations
• Tele-
communications
,
• Animation
• Electricity/
Electronics
• ,Multimedia
M, anyy
facturing/
' Control
Systems
• Computerized
Sign/Engraving
• Aerodynamics(
Aeronautics
• Small
Engines/Gears
• Wood and ,
Plastic Fabrication
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