Pupils at Franklin Middle School are sampling how it feels to be a pilot, rocket scientist, engineer and architect in the new applied technology laboratory.
Franklin is among DuPage County’s middle schools following the lead of Lisle Middle School in switching from the decades-old concept of industrial arts education to computerized occupations that provide a more realistic view of jobs for the 21st century.
“This replaces the old woodshop way of doing things and gives kids an idea of the workplace of the future,” said Dennis Rosy, Franklin principal.
Now 7th graders are required to take 12 weeks each of computer applications, life skills–an updated version of home economics, and technology lab. In 8th grade, kids can select two of the three options to continue for 18 weeks each in more advanced education.
The $170,000 lab at the Wheaton school, using space replacing most of the woodshop which still occupies a corner of the school basement, contains 30 modules to give children a taste of transportation, communication, manufacturing, construction and bio-related careers.
In the flight simulation program, youngsters begin with a computer lesson about the Wright Brothers’ development of the airplane. The seven-day unit culminates with a flight simulator program in which pupils pilot a plane taking off from Chicago’s Meigs Field.
Matthew Kutz, an 8th grader, has sampled what work might be like as an engineer and rocket scientist. He has built a rocket he hopes his class can launch later this spring.
He also has programmed a computer to apply stress on a piece of wood to determine how much force is needed before it will crack, a task a structural engineer must master.
Other modules enable children to sample the role of an architect in computer-aided design, a robotics technician in programming a robotic arm to move materials and a television editor in putting together a video.
Franklin is the pilot school for a technology lab in Wheaton Warrenville Unit School District 200, which may add the facility at other middle schools.