Precision Plus’ Education Update for January 2016
Mark Beilman, Director of Education and Training at Precision Plus of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, continues to spearhead educational initiatives for the company.
On January 12, 2016, Precision Plus, along with several member companies of Milwaukee7’s Southeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (SEWMA) K-16 Connections Task Force, took part in a tour and presentation at Union Grove High School, where they met with educators, students and parents, to learn about the development of their impressive career-focused “academies.”
Currently, the school is working on developing three separate academies: engineering and manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology. The academies would offer students classes and learning options in line with future career choices.
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is to be involved in the development of the curriculum, which would also include working in tandem with local technical colleges and businesses. The intention of the program is for participating students to graduate with a certificate in hand, college credits, and work experience.
The success track of the academies is to serve as a model for implementing similar programs in other schools across Wisconsin.
Representing Union Grove High School during the tour and presentation, were Principal Tom Hermann, STEM Coordinator Stacey Duchrow, a group of engaged teachers, students, and their parents.
Carma Laboratories, Krones, Quad Packaging, Central Garden and Pet, Steele Solutions, Monarch Corporation, Evoqua Water Technologies, Natural Resource Technology, Aztalan Engineering, and Precision Plus, represented the SEWMA Alliance.
Union Grove High School’s presentation highlighted the diverse engineering and manufacturing curriculum, with options for students to follow an engineering track, a technical track, or take summer classes for which they could receive Gateway Technical College credits.
Several students participating in the program spoke about their experiences touring local businesses as well as having businesses come to their classes to discuss career possibilities, and the impact that those experiences have made on their own career choices. One of the parents brought up the importance of career fairs that positively facilitated the interaction between businesses and students.
The event concluded with roundtable discussions including teachers, businesses, and student representatives on best practices to make significant connections that would contribute to the success of the program. On April 29, 2016, a group of Union Grove High School teachers will tour Precision Plus’ facilities to continue to forge those connections.
Precision Plus welcomes visits by educators. On January 7, 2016, Fred Ganter, Physics and PLTW’s Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) course at Elkhorn Area High School, met with Mark Beilman to discuss how Precision Plus could become part of the hands-on experience of the IED class. The meeting also included a tour and conversation with Brad Pearson, who has decided to follow a manufacturing track after graduating from Elkhorn High School. Several possible projects were discussed.
For more information about Precision Plus’ educational initiatives, or to schedule a meeting or tour, please contact Mark Beilman via email, or by calling 262-743-1700.
