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STEM
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Cameron High School, Old School Standards in the 21st Century

a $100 check and an A for the course. I take take it to that level.”
a hands-off approach to the final design One of the other courses offered in the
project,” Cornell said. “At this point in their CHS Tech Ed curriculum is Architectural
design training, I think it’s detrimental for a Design. “I had a similar course a long time
teacher to start giving too much input. This is ago as part of my tech school experience in
a design competition between them, I stay out Building Construction,” Cornell said. To add
of it.” authenticity to this course, Cornell has the
“I’ve seen students run with this over students do a career search and calculate an
the years,” said Cornell. “I keep in touch with estimated annual salary. Students also look
former students who now are Mechanical at lending rates and from there they figure
Engineers, Production Managers, Drafters and maximum square foot allowances based on the
even one who is a legit Rocket Scientist.” It’s current per square foot building costs. “The
rewarding to say the least to see these “kids” kids are always stunned by the cost of mate-

Cameron HS students using flight simulator to complete real time flights
Technology Education Department criteria for a real or fictitious company. Stu-
School District of Cameron dents begin by forming a design agency,
Cameron High School Technology Edu- requiring them to submit a company name
cation Department is best described as diverse. and logo. From there they go through a Q/A
Tech Ed instructor Jay Cornell has brought a stage with the company to get specifics about
lifetime of experience to a small but progres- design criteria, material requirements and
sive school. product use. The teams are asked to submit
The Drafting and Design curriculum is a proposal, preliminary sketches and finally,
a highlight of the program. Cornell utilizes a working and presentation drawing. A 3-D
Autocad and Solidworks to apply modern print may also be required. The design teams
design software and techniques to real-world then present their ideas to a panel made up of
applications. The 2-level mechanical design adults from business and industry who rank Cameron HS students at their computers working on design projects
program culminates in a design contract com- the design presentations based on criteria met, rials and labor. It gives them a taste of what
petition between students. overall design appeal and presentation profes- also offers Aviation to it takes to build and own a home. I also have
Students are paired-up and given design sionalism. CHS its students. “Like the them do a print of a satellite image of their
Cornell rewards the winning team with Mechanical Design course, I brought proposed building site.” Students then spend
this from a previous school,” Cornell the trimester using SoftPlan to design and
said, “I try to make this, like all my draw a set of house plans. Cornell uses local
courses, career based and as real resources including the local technical college
world as possible.” The course is and a former student, now project manager,
divided into three major units. The to enhance student learning. “I tell the kids if
history, physics and parts of a plane. they decide to pursue a career in the building
Aviation history includes iconic trades, design field, estimating, or any of the
planes, people and events that made many jobs required to build buildings, this
aviation what it is today. Cornell takes class will give them a good foundation. If not,
the kids to the Richard Bong War at least it will help them better understand
Memorial in Superior as part of the what goes into the construction of their home
history unit to further study one of our and make them an informed consumer.”
nation’s greatest war heroes. Cornell, who is in his 34th years as an
The physics of flight uses a educator shares some concerns about the
college level text allowing students to future. “I’d like to predict a bright future for
delve into what makes flight possible. Tech Ed and education in general in Wiscon-
Finally, Cornell uses X-plane to sin, but current trends do not bear this out.
do real time flights on the flight sim I’m hoping the district will be able to replace
program. “I try to make this part as me and other veteran teachers without losing
authentic as possible as well. The the quality or diversity in programming. The
kids do a flight plan for each flight, shortage of [Tech Ed] teachers is evident.”
call in weather conditions and plot
the course, said Cornell. It’s a very
popular class, in part, because of its
uniqueness.” www.cameron.k12.wi.us
Cameron HS Aviation students and instructor Jay Cornell on their annual trip to the Richard I
Bong memorial and war Museum.