Page 9 - TTWIWinter2022-2023

Teaching Today Wisconsin | Winter 2022–23, Volume 1 Careers in Motion — Construction Page 9

A Teacher's Journey: Learning by Doing

Probably every teacher has a heard a munity to showcase their talents and market for students. Zak also uses humor. If a student is
student ask, “Why do we need to learn this?” themselves and their employability skills,” The bottom line is that work-based learn- holding a hammer close to the head, he’ll hand
And teachers says Zak. ing is a powerful motivator, not just for Zak’s the student a hammer with a short, sawed-
know the closer Last year with the help of his depart- students, but for ALL students. So much so, off handle, saying, “If you’re going to use a
they come to ment, Zak started a SkillsUSA chapter, giving that Zak uses work-based learning opportuni- hammer like that, I’m going to give you a short
providing a students another way to showcase their skills. ties as a carrot to teach the professional skills one.” besides getting a chuckle, it gets the kid
real-world sce- “All my Tech Club kids joined SkillsUSA and students will need to earn a youth apprentice- to consider that maybe he or she is using the
nario, the more then they talked to their buddies about Skills ship. tool incorrectly. Less talking, more doing,
likely students after our first competition,” he says. “And we Susan relates that, one day as she stood delivers the message.
are to grasp a just started growing.” nearby, one of his students, who was waiting Zak’s program is growing, and he is
concept and A big attraction for all Mosinee students to hear whether he’d been accepted into the learning by doing, too. He’s growing along
engage in the is work-based learning including the Youth Youth Apprenticeship Program, made an off- with his students in enthusiasm, determina-
subject. Zak Kachel is on his own real-world Apprenticeship Program. He credits Susan color joke to another student. tion, caring, knowing where to draw the line,
journey. Now in his third year as a Technology Swinick, a Family and Consumer Science “Zak just pulled him aside and wrote him with a little humor mixed in. And he’s grateful
and Engineering education teacher (gr. 8-12) Teacher and Mosinee’s School-to-Work up immediately,” says Susan. “It’s not like for the team around him.
for the Mosinee School District, he is quickly Coordinator, for nearly a third of Mosinee’s he was barking at him,” she explains. but he “As long as we can stay committed to
learning how to engage his students. students signing on for placements in work- wants his students to understand the implica- the passion that we all have for the kids and
“First thing I did here was I started a based learning. tions of their words and actions. According to wanting to see them succeed, I don't think
woodworking club,” says Zak. “We called Mosinee currently has four regional Susan, he is very good at providing real-life there's anything stopping this from growing
it Tech Club. And we work with community career path- scenarios. Instead of telling the student to leaps and bounds,” says Zak.
members to produce products.” ways: advanced make a change, he gets the student to see the Article courtesy of the WI DPI
one of their bigger projects was building manufacturing; need for change.
a 13-foot-by-17-foot sign for the local brewery architecture and In this case, he explained to the student
in town. Built out of the original flooring in construction; that his comment would be considered sexual mosineeschools.org
their business, the job called on students to digital technol- harassment and asks, “What do you think is
glue the floorboards to plywood and use the ogy; and patient going to happen in that situation?”
CNC router, among other hands-on steps. Stu- care. but even
dents loved the project and came in on their if a career inter-
own time in the summer to help finish it. est is outside D.C. Everest Senior High Students Gain
“They wanted to be in here working, and these pathways—such as interior design or
I wanted to get them connected with the com- veterinary science—Susan finds connections Critical Construction and First Aid Skills

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curriculum, which includes Architectural bleeding control, including applying a tourni-
Design (DE), math, physics, Computer Aided quet, packing a wound, and holding pressure
Drafting, Advanced Computer Aided Draft- over a wound. “This training will provide
ing, Construction, Construction Trades and our students with instruction so they can
a series of Wood Manufacturing courses. provide immediate care for serious wounds
“All of these factors ensure our students can and injuries that could occur in or around a
productively contribute to the Habitat for construction site,” states Wegge. “our Con-
Humanity mission,” notes Aaron Hoffman, struction Trades students will gain a unique
DCE Career and Technical Education Coor- skill set in treating severe injuries that will
dinator. “Students begin by learning the basic help them be better prepared for emergency
principles related to construction but can situations on the job site.”
progress to more advanced principles thanks Currently a dozen Construction Trades
to our expanded curriculum. our new Tech students are working on the Habitat for
Ed wing also provides them with access to Humanity house, sealing up the house for
computer-integrated technologies that ensure winter conditions. With the framework for
they are better prepared for a real-world work the house completed and the outer walls and
environment.” roof installed, students will focus on interior
To work on the construction of the construction projects — interior walls, electri-
Habitat for Humanity house, students must be cal, plumbing, insulation, drywall — during
enrolled in Construction Trades. Last year, a the winter months. This year’s class includes
new facet was added to the course: First Aid two female students, the second time in recent
and CPR certification. One hundred percent years when young women have joined the
of Construction Trades students earned their team. “A primary focus of our recent renova-
certification. This year’s students are in the tions has been to create learning spaces that
process of finalizing their First Aid and CPR are welcoming to all learners. both of these
certifications and in Spring 2023 they will be young women are inspiring younger students
trained in a new Stop the bleed course. Karen as we continue to expand on this positive
Wegge, DCE Physical Education/Health/ trend,” added Hoffman.
AoDA Coordinator, secured funding from the
D.C. Everest Education Foundation to provide
Stop the bleed training for DCE staff and www.dce.k12.wi.us
Construction Trades students. The program
provides instruction on the techniques of