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STEM
        Page 6                                                                                                 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaywi.com


                          Robust STEM Programs Set Students Up for Success in Oshkosh


                                            school. In the world of work, students are able                            Lastly, in addition to the wide selection
                                            to take graphic arts concepts and excel in mar-                        of  STEM  and  career-focused  courses,  the
                                            keting, publishing, product development, and                           oshkosh Area School District’s School2Work
                                            more.                                                                  (S2W) program partners with local manufac-
                                               Coding  and  programming  skills                                    turers to provide an immersive paid capstone
                                            are  also  fundamental  across  STEM  fields.                          experience  for  high  school  seniors.  Students
                                            oshkosh  students  enrolled  in  robotics  begin                       in  the  S2W  program  take  classes  that  meet
                                            by learning how to use basic pseudocode and                            their high school credit requirements but that
                                            different  robotic  sensors  and  processes.  At                       have been reimagined and are taught through
                                            oshkosh North, the annual bottlebot compe-                             a manufacturing lens. They get paid to work
                                            tition  has  become  a  highly  anticipated  and                       for an area company for four hours during the
                                            engaging learning experience. Teams design,                            school day, and they take technical courses at
                                            build, and program battlebots that compete in                          the technical college’s Advanced Manufactur-
                                            an  exciting  mid-year  competition.  Strategic                        ing and Technical Center.
                                            thinking  and  troubleshooting  come  together                             STEM  education  teaches  students  to
                                            with  coding  abilities.  Robotics  students  at                       approach  problems  methodically,  think  criti-
                                            oshkosh West also take their learning to the                           cally, and develop perseverance and creativity
                                            field, programming robots to do a variety of                           in solving challenges. The analysis, collabora-
                                            tasks including playing soccer.                                        tion, communication, and technical aptitudes
                                               The  engineering  courses  available  at                            gained are invaluable for any career. hands-
                                            oshkosh North and oshkosh West blend aca-                              on  application  in  the  oshkosh  STEM  and
        Katie Nieman                        demic  rigor  with  projects  and  certifications.   In welding and manufacturing courses,   engineering  programs  reinforces  these  skills
        Communication Director              The curriculum mirrors college classes, allow-  oshkosh  high  school  students  develop  key   while  introducing  various  professions.  With
        Oshkosh Area School District        ing  students  to  earn  technical  college  credit   metalworking skills like welding and machin-  this  exposure  and  development,  oshkosh
                                                                                ing.  Advanced  manufacturing  students  at
            oshkosh West and oshkosh North high   and  industry-recognized  certification  -  spe-  oshkosh West  are  putting  their  abilities  into   high school students gain awareness and the
        Schools provide robust STEM and engineer-  cifically, Autodesk Certified User - Inventor.   practice building wood-burning rocket stoves,   ability  to  purposefully  chart  their  academic
        ing programs to set students up for success.   Students apply the engineering design process   combining their welding expertise with engi-  and career paths.
        Courses  offer  hands-on  learning,  mirror   in challenges like the egg drop, practicing crit-  neering design principles. In addition, students
        real-world applications, and connect to local   ical  analysis  and  problem-solving.  Students   in these courses are taking dual credit through
        business and industry.              also have access to 3D printers and are able to   FVTC,  earning  college  credits  while  still  in   www.oshkosh.k12.wi.us
            Woodworking  reflects  the  construction   explore additive manufacturing.   high school. The dual credit partnership allows
        industry  in  the  area.  Students  create  practi-                     students to get a head start on their post-sec-
        cal  projects  like  chopping  blocks  and  end                         ondary training in welding and manufacturing
        tables,  learning  various  wood  techniques.                           fields.
        CNC machine operation is taught in advanced                                Many other courses at oshkosh North and
        woodworking  classes,  providing  relevant                              oshkosh  West  provide  students  with  STEM
        experience with automated equipment used by                             exposure  including  construction,  metals,
        manufacturers. As part of the district’s com-                           electronics, mechatronics, auto/home mainte-
        mitment  to  preparing  the  future  workforce,                         nance,  architecture,  drafting,  3D  design,  and
        students are also able to receive industry rec-                         machining. This  range  covers  diverse  indus-
        ognized  credentials.  In  woodworking,  that                           tries and allows students to discover passions
        includes Autodesk Certified User - AutoCAD                              to shape future plans.
        and Woodwork Career Alliance Core Creden-                                  beyond the classroom, students are regu-
        tial.                                                                   larly  engaging  in  unique  business  tours  and
            Graphic arts taps into creativity, allow-                           field  trips  to  connect  learning  to  potential
        ing students to follow the full design process                          careers  that  are  available  in  oshkosh.  Eye-
        for  products  like  t-shirts,  notepads,  stamps,                      opening  experiences  include  participating  in
        stickers, and signage using Adobe Illustrator.                          the technical college’s hands-on, high-Tech
        Industry certification in this software is also                         Event and the Manufacturing First Expo field
        available,  helping  students  get  a  leg  up  on                      trip, as well as an immersive visit to the oper-
        their post-secondary plans while still in high
                                                                                ating Engineers Local 139 each year.

                BUILD A CAREER WORKING WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENT



                                     Learn about Operating Engineers Apprenticeships

                                           and our State-of-the-Art Training Center

                                                  Contact us at (715) 228-4911
                                                 or visit: www.139training.org
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