“They learn from one another, and that’s exciting to see,” Price said. “Often I learn from them!” He recalled a project in which first-year team members manufactured custom-designed clipboards for sale to other Clayton County schools. Afterward, they did a cost analysis and found a way to cut costs by about half while maintaining quality. “They showed initiative and good business sense, and those are skills employers want,” said Price.

 

Team members get a comprehensive introduction to basic engineering and technology skills and careers in their first year. This approach gives them a springboard from which they can branch out to other areas. They can move on into engineering concepts and applications, research and development, project management, and communication technology. They learn that in the working world a single answer to a problem is not always possible or even a good idea. “We want them to develop thinking and problem-solving skills—to look at different viewpoints and come up with alternate solutions,” said Price. “These are the skills that will serve them best in a constantly changing world.”

 

 

His team members see how everything they learn in math, science, language arts, and social studies relates to the careers they are working toward. They produce technical presentations about their career interests and debate the effect of engineering and technology on people’s lives. They work with software for virtual modeling, rapid prototyping, and computer-aided design. “We give them everything they need to learn how to live, succeed, and excel in a technical world,” said Price.