PhyXTGears at the Kettering Competition

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Muncie's FIRST Robotics Team wins at the Kettering Competition, September 23, 2006. Rainy days bring May flowers. Except when it is autumn, and the subject is robots. Team #1720, Muncie's FIRST Robotics Team, The PhyXTGears, went competing and brought home flowers - we WON! Not bad for a Rookie team! Traveling through rainy autumn weather, thirteen students and mentors of the Muncie Delaware FIRST Robotics team drove to Flint, Michigan, on 9/23 for the 6th annual Kettering Kickoff at Kettering University, for an off-season competition. Attendees included 31 other teams from Michigan, the midwest, and as far away as Rochester, NY
 

Highest Rookie Seed Award FIRST Robotics Team #1720

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PhyXTGears had a great showing at the FIRST Robotics Boilermaker Regional Competition on the Purdue campus in West Lafayette. The team won the "Highest Rookie Seed Award" and placed 11th overall at the end of the qualifying match competitions.
 

Alcoa Grant Funds New Pre-Engineering Programs for Middle Schools

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Five Indiana school districts will implement new pre-engineering programs for middle school students this year thanks to the support of a $50,000 grant from Alcoa Foundation. Project Lead The Way is a national program focusing on partnerships between public schools, institutions of higher education, and businesses to increase the quantity and quality of engineers and engineering technologists graduating from U.S. schools. Many Indiana schools have been working to increase student interest in engineering and engineering technology,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed said. “Alcoa Foundation’s generous donation is another example of communities working together to make a difference in student achievement.”
 

Communication Project Uses Service-Learning to Support Our Troops

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Tech Directions- Students often learn that the most meaningful experiences they may ever have are community based and involve their solutions to help address real world problems as a service for others.
 

Disney Education Award Winner

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Tech Directions- Douglas Dillion, a middle school technology education teacher at Honey Creek Middle School in Terre Haute, IN, was chosen from more than 75,000 nominees to receive the 2006 Disney Teacher Award. Dillion was awarded for his creativity, innovative teaching methods and ability to inspire his students. “My favorite parts of teaching are having students get excited about learning, wanting to come to my class just to work extra on activities and helping them achieve to their maximum potential,” said Dillion.
 

ITEA Member Receives Disney Teacher Award

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The Technology Teacher - ITEA member Douglas Dillion, a middle school technology education teacher at Honey Creek Middle School in Terre Haute, Indiana, was chosen from more than 75,000 nominees nationwide to receive the 2006 Disney Teacher Award in celebration of his creativity, innovative teaching methods, and ability to inspire his students. Douglas Dillion is now forming a foundation to assist middle level technology education and high school career and technology education programs. Initially he hopes to work with Indiana Department of Education technology education specialist and fellow ITEA member, Mike Fitzgerald, to continue to develop technology education curriculum crosswalks activities and then offer standards-based training opportunities for the technology education teachers in Indiana.
 

Super Mileage Challenge: Combining Education and Fun!

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The Technology Teacher - The Super Mileage Challenge teaches students to research, design, and construct futuristic vehicles while applying advanced topics in math, science, technology, and engineering. With the rising price of fuel and increased concerns for the environment, achieving maximum gas mileage continues to be a very important topic. Today, in an exciting student competition, Indiana students seek solutions by applying technology, innovation, design, and engineering. IMSTEA, the organization sponsoring the event, is a non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to improving the mathematics, science, and technological literacy and competency of all Hoosiers. It was founded in 1990 and continues to pursue this goal today.
 

Teachers to integrate Chinese history, culture into lessons

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Muncie Star Press-. Each teacher took away something different from the day and got ideas for what to do with their students. Technology education teacher Mike Evans said the trip will influence his classes in a variety of ways. He personally enjoyed seeing one of the first handmade screws, on display in a helmet made about 1560. "This seemingly insignificant invention made possible the industrial revolution," Evans said. Along with sharing that kind of information with his students, Evans has a variety of projects planned. Currently, the Three Gorges Dam Project is under way in China. It's one of the most ambitious engineering feats in history. Evans will use that as a basis for assignments. The construction class, for example, will look at how the dam is being constructed and the logistics of it. The engineering class will compare the preparation differences for such a project in the United States compared to preparations in China. "We'll translate any differences into costs in time and money and make some sort of comparison as to which method is better for us," Evans said. "The technology and science class will look at the Three Gorges Dam Project from the viewpoint of what the completed project hopes to accomplish compared with what the project will replace.
 

All-Girls Engineering Camp Builds Awareness of Career Opportunities, Forges Robotics Team

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“What do engineers actually do? If you are a civil engineer, what do you do? If you are a mechanical engineer, what do you do?” Morgan Henry, who will be a junior at Pike High School this fall, was one of 22 girls from Indianapolis-area high schools who attended the Preparing Outstanding Women for Engineering Roles – or POWER – camp at IUPUI. “One of our goals is to increase the number of underrepresented students studying engineering,” said Terri Talbert-Hatch, assistant dean for student services for the School of Engineering and Technology. “Females represent only about 10% of our engineering students. So by offering this camp, it provides opportunities for high school girls to network with other females interested in pursuing a degree in engineering as well as to meet female engineers in the workplace and current female students.
 

Winamac for the long run

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The second time proved to be the charm for the Winamac Community High School Super Mileage team. Com peting in their second event of the year, the team posted a top run of 1,200 mpg. This effort proved good enough for a runner-up spot in the high school division and fifth place overall. Competition at the Society of Automotive Engineers Super Mileage Challenge really heated up this year as teams put up some out­standing numbers. No less than six teams topped the 1,000 mpg plateau with the top mileage of the day turned in by the University of British Columbia at an amazing 3,145 mpg!
 

Building robot is labor of love

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Muncie Star Press – Tyler Koch’s always had an interest in engineering. “When I was a kid, I liked putting stuff together, …Legos and stuff,” So when Koch learned about a new group in town, one that would let him work hands-on building a robot, he was all for it.
 

Doug Dillion announced as 2006 Disney Honoree

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The Disney Teacher Awards do not simply honor one teacher, they also make an investment in that teacher's educational community. In addition to the monetary awards, Disney will also fly the Honorees and their principals to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., in October for a six-day professional development institute where they can refine their own innovative teaching approaches by sharing ideas and learn how to engage other teachers to build an effective collaborative teaching culture at their school. Once they return, the teachers and their principals will work with experts from the Center for Collaborative Education in Boston to design a schoolwide plan for making teaching more effective.
 

2006 IMSTEA SMC Slide Show

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2006 IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge Slide Show
 

2006 Hoosier Hovercraft Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana

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The Hoosier Hovercraft Championship marked the beginning of the 2006 racing season for the Hoverclub of America. Marquis Songer kicked off the event with an open house for teachers and students at Terre Haute, South High School on Friday evening.
 

Technology: An Educational Imperative

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SEEN Magazine, Summer 2006- Recognizes Greenfield Central High School and the Indiana Super Mileage Challenge in an article titled, Technology: an educational imperative. “We risk underestimating the importance of the assessment of technological change or assuming that the assessment of technological change is entirely a scientific process. With our current zeal to improve schools, now is the time to examine how technology should be taught. The real challenge is how it will be possible for a country to maintain a competitive technological advantage if it continues to ignore teaching about technology and innovation. To maintain its superiority as a technological leader, our country must teach and emphasize the study of technology beyond its use as a delivery system for other subjects.
 

Council for Technology Teacher Education Honors Ball State Program

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"The Technology Teacher Education major at Ball State has long been one of the premier programs in the nation, and we are pleased to be recognized at our international convention," said Richard Seymour, program coordinator. "The outstanding program recognition for 2005-06 reflects the fine faculty and students in our program, not just this past year but for the past decades." Students in the Ball State Technology Education Club also participated in five Technology Education Collegiate Association (TECA) events, bringing home plaques in four of the contests. Ball State technology education students won the national title in the TECA Technology Challenge — a quiz bowl event among 17 colleges and universities — and finished first in the Kelvin Technologies Transportation Contest.
 

Purdue Solar Racing Team Visits Valparaiso High School

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On Tuesday May 16th, 2006 approximately 600 students in technology, science, engineering and math classes were treated to a presentation from the Purdue Solar Racing Team. The team is on its annual Indiana tour and is making stops at high schools to encourage students to study math, science, technology and engineering.
 

In The Classroom: Engineering Education

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May 16, 2006. IndyStar.com - In this class, students can build and destroy. As many as 50 Brownsburg East Middle School students in Grades 7-8 can be found in Floyd's laboratory building, testing and destroying engineering projects on their own time. Floyd teaches one of the most popular elective courses at the school, a pre-engineering program she calls Gateway to Technology. "It's become popular," she said. "I think the students like to see the practical applications of what they build." Floyd said the class is a 21st-century, high-tech version of what older adults remember as "shop'' at vocational schools. About 180 students are enrolled in the class, and more are on a waiting list to take it next year and it's why Floyd was picked as the school district's Teacher of the Year for 2005.
 

Sam Cox Awarded IUPUI’s Prestigous Bepko Award

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Technology education teacher Sam Cox from Lafayette Jefferson High School was honored by the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI as the Outstanding Indiana Project Lead the Way teacher of 2006. IUPUI's Industry Advisory Council voted unanimously to honor Mr. Sam Cox due to his outstanding efforts to motivate students statewide to pursue careers in engineering and engineering technology.
 

Warren Robotics Team #829 Annual Recognition Night

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Senator Pat Miller and Representative Larry Buell were in attendance. They spoke on the importance of studying engineering and praised everyone for their involvement in the program. Senator Miller presented a Certificate of Achievement from the Indiana Senate to everyone on the team.
 

Indiana Technology Education Teacher Wins National Disney Education Award

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BURBANK, Calif.— Douglas Dillion, a middle school technology education teacher at Honey Creek Middle School in Terre Haute, has been chosen from more than 75,000 nominees nationwide to receive the 2006 Disney Teacher Award in celebration of his creativity, innovative teaching methods, and ability to inspire his students. As one of only 44 Disney Teacher Honorees. “Disney is dedicated to brightening the lives of children and we salute dedicated teachers like Mr. Dillion for using creativity in their classrooms to inspire our children to achieve more than they ever thought possible,” said Terry Wick, vice president of Disney Worldwide Outreach. “We hope communities across the country will join us in thanking all their great teachers this week during Teacher Appreciation Week.”
 

Disney Education Award

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May 9, 2006, Action 10 News WTHI – Doug Dillion is the first Technology Education teacher to ever win the award. He says winning the award is humbling and exciting "I'm not as excited for getting the award as I'm excited for what it can do for the students not only at Honey Creek Middle School but for the Vigo County School Corporation and the state of Indiana," Dillion said.
 

Valley Teacher Named to Receive 2006 Disney Teacher Award

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May 8, 2006, Tribstar.com - Since the last week of March, Doug Dillion has had to keep a big, big secret. The Honey Creek Middle School technology teacher learned he is one of 44 teachers nationwide to receive the 2006 Disney Teacher Award. More than 75,000 teachers were nominated. Disney Teachers are selected by their peers, including representatives of leading educational associations and former Disney teacher honorees. The award “sets him apart from literally thousands of other applicants,” said Superintendent Tanoos, who praised the technology teacher’s tireless energy, enthusiasm and dedication to students. Honey Creek Principal Patrick Sheehan wrote that Dillion’s lessons “are carefully crafted so he can challenge all levels of students to the best of their abilities. Dillion deserves the honor “for his dedication to the students he teaches each day — providing not only knowledge of technology, but creating outstanding citizens,” Sheehan wrote.
 

Brownsburg East Middle School teacher Christine Floyd named as Brownsburg Teacher of the Year

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Chris Floyd is well known for the positive attitude she brings to her work each day both with students and staff. She has been quick to research, learn and grow. She has pioneered a pre-engineering program, Gateway to Technology, at the middle school level. Superintendent Kathleen Corbin said, "She models the learning strategies in her own professional life that she teaches to students in her classroom. Her classroom is full of students who admire her and know they are in the presence of an outstanding teacher. She knows her field and has been instrumental in leading the way to bring rigorous and relevant curriculum to her students in the new field of pre-engineering, as well as mathematics and technology."
 

ITEA Conference Creates Lasting Impression with Greenfield Central Students

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Many educators attended the International Technology Education Association conference held in Baltimore, Maryland on March 23-25, 2006. However, they were not the only ones in attendance. For the first time, a team of high school students attended the conference and presented Project Lead the Way, a pre-engineering program, to teachers and administrators alike.
 

First Annual South Side Robotics Invitational Championship

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Unlike “Battle” robots, the SSRI competition is “less damaging and more challenging.” It tests the mechanical, programming, and driving abilities of students as they attempt to win complex games in a short time. These eight to 15-pound robots have been custom designed from scratch for this game. The following high schools were expected to attend the “Championship” event: West Noble, Wayne, South Side, North Side, Harding, Dwenger, and Canterbury. The league is also accepting applications from other regional high schools for the 2006-2007 competition season.
 

ISU Alumni Earns State-wide Honor as Technology Teacher

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A technology teacher at Honey Creek Middle School who is also a Indiana State University graduate recently earned the John E. Gray Memorial Meritorious Teaching Award from the Technology Educators of Indiana.
 

Chris Floyd GTT teacher at Brownsburg Middle School Awarded Armstrong Teacher Educator Award

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The Armstrong Teacher Educator Award is given to a select group of K-12 teachers in the state of Indiana. This professional development opportunity enables these teachers to work with the faculty and undergraduates in the School of Education at Indiana University Bloomington in a variety of capacities, including teaching, research, and special projects and events.
 

Harrison Wins Super Mileage Event

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April 27, 2006. Lafayette Journal and Courier Online - After 10 years of trying, Harrison High School has won the IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge. "Last year, we didn't know the potential of our car.” The Harrison car won the Unlimited Class, averaging 1,060.30 miles per gallon. IMSTEA officials measure the fuel used and compute the gas mileage. Jewell said the car "belongs to the students." "They built the car. I don't lift a wrench," he said. "I had a great team this year. "This event is exposing them to real-life situations where you have to use math for gear calculations, gear efficiency and resistance. You must be aware of all the different variables that go into getting good gas mileage, including rolling resistance and aerodynamics," he said.
 

Indiana Robotics Students Win at the FIRST World Championship in Atlanta

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ATLANTA – April 30, 2006 –The FIRST Robotics Competition (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an exciting, multinational robotics competition that teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way.
 

Students Test Egg-Firing Machines in Competition

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April 28, 2006. Ball State Daily News Online - The teams will launch the eggs at a target 25 meters away. Each team has three eggs and will be judged on how far the egg goes and if the egg stays intact. David Riegle, director of the Iron Egg Drop competition, said the event was a good way for the students to apply lessons they've learned in the classroom. We're generating interest in using science and math and to do something with it," he said. Alan Jordan, professor of mechanical engineering technology, said the event would give students a hands-on opportunity to build and use technology. "It provides some real-world experience in problem solving, design and testing," he said.
 

Purdue Sponsors High School Egg Launch Competition in Muncie

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April 25, 2006. Purdue University News - "The students in the contest are able to put to use the concepts they are learning in the classroom, as well as have fun," said David Riegle, Purdue's Anderson/Muncie student services coordinator. "A technology education is about applying scientific knowledge and theory to hands-on applications. This competition helps the students start thinking about how those theories apply to real-world situations."
 

Super Mileage Challenge Winners Average Over 1,000 MPG, Rensselaer Central Reaches 235.98

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April 28, 2006. RensselaerRepublican.com – The students build their own cars under the supervision of a faculty member. They are responsible for the design and construction of the car and for raising all funds needed for the project. Engines are furnished by Briggs & Stratton Corp., but all other items must be either purchased or donated by sponsors. The students learn not only the technical and scientific aspects of building a high mileage car, they also learn how to work as a team and solve complex problems.
 

They Keep Going and Going . . .

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April 25, 2006. IndyStar.com – Student-built vehicles get 1,000-plus miles a gallon. Vehicles that get more than 1,000 miles per gallon of gas competed Monday during the Indiana Super Mileage Challenge at Indianapolis Raceway Park to determine which car has the best mileage. The one-man vehicles were built by students, with top honors going to Evansville's Mater Dei and William Henry Harrison high schools.
 

Life at 1,000 miles per gallon

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April 24, 2006. IndyStar.com - “These students research, design, and construct prototype vehicles, applying what they learn in topics related to safety, control, geometry, aerodynamics, composite materials, fabrication techniques, and much more,” said Mike Fitzgerald, technology education specialist with the Indiana Department of Education.
 

Mater Dei High School and William Henry Harrison Win IMSTEA High Mileage Challenge Event at IRP

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April 24, 2006. IndianaRacing.net - For Mater Dei High School they not only defended their championship from 2005, vehicle got 1,015.60 miles-per-gallon, but they also worked through challenges during the course of the day. "This win is all about the tenacity of our kids," said Bob Neisen, parent advisor for the team. "We struggled until the very end to get all of our runs in, we had break downs all day long with the car but we worked through it and got the win."
 

Chickens Don't Fly, But Eggs Do at Iron Egg Launch

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April 21, 2006. Ball State University Newscenter - The third annual Iron Egg Launch competition will take place at 10 a.m. April 29 on the athletic field across from Ball Memorial Hospital near the intersection of University and Tillotson avenues. The event, hosted by Ball State and the Purdue University College of Technology-Anderson/Muncie, is expected to draw more than 20 teams of high school students from across the state. Each team will construct a launcher and a container to protect the egg from cracking.
 

Super Mileage Challenge Returns to Raceway Park

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April 19, 2006. TribStar.com -Mike Fitzgerald, technology education specialist with the Indiana Department of Education, said the goal is not to re-invent the automobile, but to give students hands-on experience in the technology field. “Our real goal is just to get kids excited about a future career in math, science, technology and engineering,” he said. What the students are learning, Fitzgerald explained, is how to go through the entire design process from concept to prototype. The race is a way of allowing them to test their finished designs in a real-world environment. Cascade team captain Dustin Stevens said he intends to pursue a career in engineering after graduation. He believes work being done by students on the Super Mileage cars has real-world applications. “It’s an excellent opportunity for kids, schools and their community,” Fitzgerald said.
 

High School Students put Math, Science and Technology on the Road

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April 15, 2006. NewsLink, Indiana - Hagerstown high school students are using math, science and technology to build on real-life situations by constructing a car from scratch. In just ten days they’ll take their “super mileage vehicle” to Indianapolis Raceway Park to see how it rolls in a state-wide competition.
 

The Indiana Mathematics Science and Technology Alliance (IMSTEA) in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Education

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April 24, 2006. IDoE News Release - With the rising prices of gas and concerns for the environment, the importance of achieving maximum gas mileage has increased. Therefore, IMSTEA has teamed up with several partners, including the Indiana Department of Education, to host the 2006 Indiana Super Mileage Challenge. Students from across Indiana have designed and built vehicles that they will drive around the IRP oval in the competition today. Each vehicle is a one-man, fuel-efficient car powered by a single cylinder four-stroke cycle engine.
 

2006 ITEA/TECA Competitive Event Results

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The TECA programs have never enjoyed a better opportunity to “showcase” the young professionals who will be the future of ITEA. The college students showed up in great numbers and benefited from the ITEA, TECA, ITEA-CS, and other programs.
 

2006 IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge Results

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The winners for 2006 are William Henry Harrison High School, Lafayette, Indiana (1060.30 mpg; Unlimited Class Champion) and Mater Dei High School, Evansville, Indiana (1241.76 mpg; Stock Class Champion). Additional awards were also presented to schools for the best integration of mathematics, science, and technology into the design and construction of a vehicle, best design, craftsmanship, sportsmanship, tenacity, the people’s choice, and the closest estimate to actual performance.
 

Program Excellence: South Dearborn Middle School in Aurora, Indiana

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One of the great assets of South Dearborn Middle School is the Technology Education Lab. Carrie McCune, the technology education teacher at SDMS, traveled to Baltimore, Maryland in March to attend the International Technology Education Association An nual Conference and receive the Middle School Program Excellence Award.
 

Senator Richard G. Lugar, United States Senate IMSTEA SMC letter

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A letter of support and congratulations to commend the students, instructors and teachers who participated in the 2006 IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge. “It is a pleasure to extend to the instructors and teachers of this program my heartiest congratulations in this effort to give students an opportunity to learn hands-on classroom knowledge and theory in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This is a real world challenge and one that will be rewarding and an asset to future careers.”
 

Super Mileage Challenge coming to Indy

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – With growing concerns about high gas prices, Hoosier students are coming to the rescue. High school students will submit 49 entries in the Indiana Super Mileage Challenge on April 24 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Their challenge is build the winning one-man, fuel-efficient vehicle powered by a single cylinder four-stroke cycle engine. The vehicle obtaining the highest miles-per-gallon rating will win the challenge. “These students research, design, and construct prototype vehicles, applying what they learn in topics related to safety, control, geometry, aerodynamics, composite materials, fabrication techniques, and much more,” said Mike Fitzgerald, technology education specialist with the Indiana Department of Education. Awards will be given for best integration of mathematics, science, and technology into the design and construction of the vehicle, best design, craftsmanship, sportsmanship, teamwork and the closest estimate to performance. “This year the event aligns with Earth Day (April 22) which is especially important with the increased concern about our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, the high cost of fuel, and the environmental concerns that we all share. The Super Mileage Challenge is a great example of how science, technology, math, and engineering can be integrated by students to improve their environment and their future,” Fitzgerald said.
 

51 Sate Schools to Compete in High Mileage Competition Event at IRP

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Are you feeling the pain at the gas pumps these days? Are you looking for a car that gets 1,015.60 miles-per-gallon? While a car that gets that gas mileage maybe years in the future, it could be invented by Indiana school students that are competing in the Indiana Mathematics Science and Technology Education and Alliance (IMSTEA) Super Mileage Challenge at IRP, on Monday, April 24. The winner in the Stock Class in 2005 was Mater Dei High School with a vehicle that was calculated to get 1,015.60mpg. Winamac Community High School took top honors in the Unlimited Class with 900.26mpg. "These students research, design, and construct prototype vehicles, applying what they learn in topics related to safety, control, geometry, aerodynamics, composite materials, fabrication techniques, and much more," said Mike Fitzgerald, technology education specialist with the Indiana Department of Education. All entrants use the same Briggs & Stratton engine, the Unlimited class may modify the engine and the stock engines are sealed

Super Mileage Challenge set

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Terre Haute South Vigo, Northview and Eastern Greene high schools and PVETI Manufacturing Academy in Cayuga will participate in the 11th annual IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge on Monday at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Students build their own cars under the supervision of a faculty member. They are responsible for the design and construction of the car and for raising all funds needed for the project. Engines are furnished by Briggs & Stratton Corp. but all other items must be either bought or donated by sponsors. The students learn not only the technical and scientific aspects of building a high-mileage car, they also learn how to work as a team and solve complex problems.
 

Mt. Vernon Students Utilizing Cutting-Edge Design Technologies

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Thanks, in part, to the Eli Lilly C.A.P.E. grant, students at Mt. Vernon are among the first in the country to utilize several state-of-the-art technologies in the area of computer design. Students learn how to produce complex 3D models and learn how to “print” their designs to make rapid prototypes. The result is that the models can be used for engineering analysis, part testing, or simply as a visual mock-up.
 

Indiana teacher receives the ITEA Special Recognition award in Baltimore, Maryland

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The International Technology Education Association recently honored Gary Wynn, DTE of Greenfield-Central High School in Greenfield, Indiana with its Special Recognition award. This award is presented to an individual who has established a sustained record of outstanding service to the field of technology education. To qualify for this award, an individual must have worked on a variety of projects, written and published about technology education, and made contributions in a variety of ways to the field of technology education.
 

2006 ITEA Program Excellence Awards

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At the recent annual conference for the International Technology Education Association in Baltimore, Maryland the Technology Education Programs at Valparaiso High School and South Dearborn Middle School were recognized as one of 28 high school and middle school programs worldwide to earn the prestigious ITEA PROGRAM EXCELLENCE AWARD.
 

Valparaiso High School Recognized

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Sponsored by the International Technology Education Association (ITEA), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Paxton/Patterson, the Program Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given to Technology Education classroom teachers on the elementary, middle or high school levels. It is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession and students. Schools from all over the United States and around the world compete for this honor.
 

Indiana students introduced to construction careers

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More than 2,000 sixth to tenth grade students from 12 schools are participating in the two-week curriculum. Developed by Douglas Dillion, a teacher in the Terre Haute school district, the “Tech Town U.S.A.” curriculum combines career exploration, hand-on activities, integrated instruction of core subjects and problems. Students design a house, build a scale model, develop a marketing spec sheet and calculate its price and taxes. “We are working with our teachers and HBI to expose students to the world of careers in our industry, but even more important, we are working to enhance their overall academic experience, Teresa Buell, the association's executive officer. “We also want to let our members know about programs such as Tech Town U.S.A.”
 

Thousands turn out for annual Home Show in Hulman Center

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Wabash Valley residents had that chance this weekend during the 2006 Home Show sponsored by the
Home Builders Association of Greater Terre Haute Inc. Home Show visitors could also see cardboard houses built by 50 Vigo County School Corp. sixth graders for the Tech Town USA project. The program is supported by the Home Builders Association and gives students the opportunity to draw scaled house plans and win awards for the best designs. “It shows them how math, science, technology and English apply in the real world,” said Doug Dillion, a tech teacher at Honey Creek Middle School and chairman for the Indiana Builders Association Educational Committee. “It introduces the construction industry and gets the kids excited.”
 

FIRST Robotics Visits the Statehouse

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Seven Indiana FIRST Robotics teams visited the Indiana Statehouse on March 7, 2006. This was a great opportunity for all of the teams in the state to showcase their machines and team members to their local legislators and to spread awareness of the FIRST mission. The teams were visited by Governor Daniels and Dr. Sue Ellen Reed, Superintendent of Public Instruction. They both took some time to talk to the teams and pose for some photographs.
 

Constructive thinking at Mt. Vernon High School

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Many students take advantage of classes that offer hands-on experiences at Mt. Vernon High School.
 

Boilermaker Regional Competition Team #1720 Wins Highest Rookie Seed Award!

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On March 16-18, Muncie FIRST robotics Team #1720, The PhyXTGears, traveled to W. Lafayette to Purdue University, for their first-ever robotics competition. From the moment of arrival, the Rookie team was busy. Three team members uncrated the robot while the rest of the team unloaded tools, equipment and our 'pit' supplies. Pit crew, scouting crew and game crew were assigned tasks and everyone got right to work fixing the robot, assessing the other teams, and preparing for on-field play.
 

Robot Rumble

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Genghis Khan had a hard time keeping it together as Vladimir the Impaler easily pushed the Mongolian leader around and, finally, off the blue competition mat Friday morning at North Montgomery High School. The two opponents were not human wrestlers. Instead, they were small robotic vehicles designed and operated with joysticks by students in Ed Stuffle’s “Principles of Engineering (POE)” class, a Project Lead the Way curriculum. “We want them to think not normally and use geometric designs other than the square — think outside the box,” Stuffle said. “The priority is to make sure the project is functional — shape is a second thought.” Beringer described the robot car project as “awesome.”
 

Robots score points at FIRST

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It was robots built by high school students that were taking the shots and scoring points by tossing rubber balls the size of bowling balls into elevated center goals or floor-level corner goals. Nearly 30 teams participated in the 2006 Boilermaker Regional Competition, conducted by FIRST -- For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. "It takes a lot of creativity, trying to solve problems," said Navid Hojatti, a senior at West Lafayette High School who helped build his school's entry. Hojatti rooted for the team from a front row seat.
 

Robotics team aims higher

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“Only those who dare to fail can ever achieve.” That old proverb is the motto for students from Greenfield-Central and Morristown high schools who partnered this year to compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competition. Last weekend the team competed at the Pittsburgh Regional and garnered second place in General Motors Industrial Design. That honor earned the team a spot in the Boilermaker Regional at Purdue University, which will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
 

BSU Hosts Pleasant View Elementary School: Manufacturing Field Trip

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Kindergarten classes from Pleasant View Elementary School (Yorktown) came to the BSU manufacturing lab for their Winter 2006 production run activity on Monday, February 27th and Tuesday, February 28th. Each student helped produce a TIC-TAC-TOE game. This activity was held in conjunction with their PVE unit on economics and modern production. Naturally, the students got to take home one of the "mass produced" products.
 

Century Career Center/Logansport High School Named one of 25 model high schools nationally

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Century/LHS has been selected as one of 25 model high schools nationwide, and the only high school in Indiana, to participate in a project sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C., and the International Center for Leadership in Education, Rexford, NY.