CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Earlier this month, The Public Education Foundation (PEF) once again teamed up with Hamilton County Schools and Volkswagen Group of America. More than 200 educators from 9 states took part in the 7th Annual Chattanooga FAB Institute. The innovative teaching methods they learned should be a far-reaching example of What’s Right With Our Schools.
“We are the seventh-annual Chattanooga FAB Institute, presented by Public Education Foundation, in partnership with Hamilton County schools and sponsored by Volkswagen Group of America. It brought in more than 200 teachers from around the country, 9 states, 27 school districts. They’re here together to learn about what’s possible when we give students access to tools like 3-D printing, laser cutter, CNC routers,” said Michael Stone, the Vice President of Learning at PEF.
“It’s great for them to be able to learn to have these skills, that they can bring out of themselves. A lot of them don’t know that they have these skills until they get in and start doing stuff like this. And they have that, “A-ha moment”. To where they go, “I got this! I can do this.” That’s what you look for lightbulb come on when you’re a teacher when you’re showing somebody how to do something,” said Charles “Coot” Williams, with Grenada High School out of Grenada Mississippi.
“They’re actually engaged in a 3 day design challenge where we challenge them to make it move,” said Stone.
“We gotta make a contraption that they dream up, that incorporate motion in some way. And it’s been fantastic,” said Stone.
“We have been blessed to have great partners. And working with Volkswagen in our community. They really helped set the North Starr for how we provide access to our students to be able to use tools like 3-D printers. Not just to make toys stuff you might see on the Internet; you can buy at an antique shop. But to actually solve problems; to dream up like, ‘What’s a real problem that I am facing?’ What is a thing I’m facing in my community or my neighborhood. And how might I use tools like a 3-D printer or laser cutter? And the kinds of essential skills our employers are looking for, to actually create we call it, ‘Functional solutions to authentic problems.’ Things that work is all the things that matters,” said Stone.
“This is my fifth FAB Institute, and every year we try to bring 20 to 30 teachers to make sure that it really lights a spark for them. A time for them to really dig in and learn with each other and from people around the country. And to take it back to their students,” said Emily Menkidick, Regional Opportunity Initiative, Blooming, Indiana.
“Most teachers were not trained this type of equipment. We were trained reading, writing and arithmetic. Not 3-D laser cutting and routing. So,there’s a little bit of wide eyed, oh my goodness! We’re gonna just do that, huh. And the answer is, “Yes!” We learn best when we actually do things. So, we want to model for our guests. Exactly what our teachers here in Hamilton County are doing for our students. To give them opportunity to actually solve things, to actually use the tools and embed the learning in that experience,” said Stone.
