The WSWHE BOCES Southern Adirondack PTECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program in collaboration with SUNY Adirondack hosted a virtual Manufacturing week Monday October 26 through Thursday October 29, 2020.
Manufacturing Day is a nationwide celebration of modern manufacturing that aims to inspire future manufacturers. During a typical year, Manufacturing Day includes interactive tabeling, hands-on activities and demonstrations by area STEAM and manufacturing business, SUNY Adirondack professors and WSWHE BOCES instructors. Although this year looked different as the celebration happened, it continued to include great opportunities for student interaction and learning.
Students from grades 9 and 10 were invited to a virtual classroom Monday through Wednesday to watch several videos and work on career-focused activities. These assignments counted toward required program completion work hours. The week culminated with a virtual business and industry partner panel discussion. This interactive panel provided students the opportunity to hear more from the industry partners as well as allowed time for Q&A. Nearly 100 students from a half dozen area schools were invited to take part this year, offering these students the opportunity to learn about manufacturing careers and related educational pathways.
Industry partners that were a part of this celebration included Fort Miller, GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Irving Tissue, Miller Mechanical Services & Doty Machine Works, and Rasp Controls, Inc. Advanced Manufacturing Alumni, Jake Wood, from the class of 2015 was also part of the panel.
“Maintaining strong community ties and building partnerships is what this is all about” stated Brené Choppa, Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Early College Career Academy & PTECH WSWHE BOCES. Choppa added, “manufacturing day is a perfect example when we say that opportunities are endless for students interested in choosing ‘Pathways in Technology’. Things look different this year, and that’s ok. We are being creative by bringing the industries to the students through virtual tours and activities. Each company provided us with the ability to make a direct connection to real-world, real-life employment within their company walls. I truly feel more connected virtually than I have touring the companies in person, and feel the students will enjoy what we have organized for them this year.”
The Southern Adirondack PTECH program was created based on two industry sectors that have been experiencing unprecedented growth and expansion in the region. PTECH offers two pathways: Electrical Technology/Advanced Manufacturing and IT Computer Networking. Both programs are developed based on four core elements: industry credentials, acquisition of college credits that lead to an A.A.S. degree, work based learning experiences, and industry-sector technology. These core elements drive curriculum and incorporate project based learning. Programs are located on both SUNY Adirondack campuses in Queensbury and Saratoga. Students are dually enrolled in their high school and at SUNY Adirondack as non-matriculated students during their junior and senior years. During freshman and sophomore years, students will remain at their home school taking Project Lead the Way or technology courses. When juniors and seniors, students will spend half their day on the SUNY Adirondack campus with SUNY professors and BOCES Career and Technical Education instructors. The other half includes Regents level courses at their home school. Upon completion of their high school requirements, students will then finish their degree requirements for their A.A.S degree on the college campus.
To learn more about the PTECH and ECCA programs, click here.
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