Page 13 - TTWIWinter2024V2
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STEM / Engineering
Teaching Today Wisconsin | Winter 2024 Volume 2 Page 13
New Richmond High School’s Blueprints to a Successful Future
building benches, a dog house, a utility trailer The benefits of the Building Construction
floor, and stairs. These projects represent class extend far beyond the classroom. The
skill-building lab activities that bridge the gap course equips students with life-long skills
between theory and practical application. essential for homeownership and mainte-
one notable partnership is with Coun- nance. The class serves as a practical gateway
tryside Plumbing and heating. beyond to higher education and, eventually, success-
providing information and insights, this part- ful careers in the construction industry. “This
nership involves tangible support through course is preparing me so that I can eventu-
equipment donations which enriches students’ ally help my dad by working for his business,”
learning experiences. These connections with said NRhS Junior, brandon hiltner. “I’m just
industry professionals are invaluable, offering getting better by learning the techniques Mr.
students a network and potential pathways for Vogler is teaching me.”
their future careers. The hands-on nature of the course is
“I am graduating a year early and I will pivotal. It allows students not only to learn
be leaving for the Marine Corps as a Combat essential skills but also to construct functional
Engineer in June,” said Perry. “As a Combat items from paper to a finished product. This
Engineer, I will be designing where people approach goes beyond traditional education,
live overseas and building it. This class gives serving as a foundation for potential careers in
you all of the experience you need to build construction. The building Construction class
everything from the ground up with limited at NRhS is a pathway to building success, one
resources.” project at a time.
At the heart of the building Construc-
School District of New Richmond slab construction, and more, the curriculum is tion class lies the motivation for students: the
New Richmond high School’s building a robust exploration of the construction indus- ability to turn theoretical knowledge into tan-
Construction class is not just a course, it’s a try. Students learn the importance of project gible, real-world structures. The class operates newrichmond.k12.wi.us
transformative journey for students passionate mapping, guidelines, obeying building codes, as a cohesive team, using blueprints to guide
about the construction industry. Spanning two and conducting ongoing inspections. The class them through the process of construction.
hours daily throughout the entire academic instills a culture of safety and quality in every
year, this hands-on program offers a com- project.
prehensive curriculum, real-world projects, “Within this course, we are teaching
industry partnerships, and valuable life-long students everything from the foundation to
skills. building construction industry, and the biggest
To ensure students are well-prepared thing is safety,” said Vogler. “It’s important to
for the challenges of the construction field, know how to use the tools and be safe using
the building Construction class requires them, and they are getting the hands-on expe-
completion of prerequisite courses such as rience that they need through this class.”
Manufacturing and Design, Wood Techniques, one hallmark of the building Construc-
and Cabinet and Furniture Making. These tion class is its commitment to hands-on
foundational courses set the stage for a rig- learning. Students actively engage in con-
orous curriculum covering a diverse range of structing storage sheds, outdoor classrooms,
topics. “The course is good for all students bridges, and various projects within the Dis-
because someday everyone is going to either trict. “hands-on experience is very important
own a home or be renting a home, and should because you can identify what the materials
know how to troubleshoot and repair things are, what the different saws are, and the proper
when they go wrong,” said Technology Edu- way to use them,” said NRhS Junior, Chance
cation Instructor, Jeremy Vogler. Perry.
From construction materials, hand tools, Recent projects showcase the diversity of
and power tools, to job safety, working condi- their skills: constructing the musical set, craft-
tions, building design, print reading, outdoor ing dividers for Paperjack Elementary School,