Careers in STEM - without a PhD.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by jpetito

Would that public school educators get this into their heads and bring a version of technical and vocational education to the regular school day.

A lot already do. My highschool for example had CAD and drafting classes, "Digital electronics" (basic circuits and "electrical technician style work"), an automotive class, and one or two more that I don't remember. What we need is pressure from those above school administrators to make these kinds of classes more common. The educators themselves don't really get to teach whatever they feel like....

[jpetito]

Hi Brian--

We do pretty good with the digital and sometimes CAD stuff, and the plastic printers and CNC routers are pretty. But we need more of a style of education that teaches the operation of basic hand and machine tools, within a project-based environment. Bringing back something like machine shop or the sheet metal shop will be impossible in the current environment, but project-based learning that incorporates the underlying skills needed in the workplace can be translated into any workplace.

Educators complain that this kind of work is dated; it's "manufacturing" and single-minded, single-skilled in an era where they believe manufacturing is old-school and revanchist. They have no clue that the foundational skills are what keep this country operational and the digital and all the other gear functioning.

The biggest reason I got into FRC is it's the only thing on campus that plays to those hand/eye/brain skills so needed in the workplace.

Joe.