The experience of middle school can often suffer from being just that?a time in the middle. Beyond the exuberance of elementary school and not yet at the challenges of high school, middle school students can at times find themselves unable to pursue an education that is particularly interesting and appealing to them. However, there is a remarkable new program in Wisconsin that aims to introduce relevant and challenging concepts at the middle school level. The Brown Deer Middle School Technology Center, in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, is set up to challenge students with new and creative ideas in order to spark their interest in studying and using technology.

At Brown Deer, Instructor Jeff Thielke has designed and put into place one of the premier middle school technology facilities and programs in the state. The intention is to offer the best and most advanced technology education in various modules, covering the areas of communications, transportation, construction and manufacturing.

Technology education is certainly not new in Wisconsin, but it takes a sincere commitment from the community, school board, administration and instructor to develop an outstanding program such as this.

Model Modules

During the 2001-02 school year, Thielke was recruited to Brown Deer to begin to design and implement five new technology education courses. These include Exploring Technology Education for sixth graders; Introduction to Technology I (Communications and Construction) and II (Manufacturing and Transportation) in the seventh grade, and Technology Systems I (Communications and Construction) and II (Manufacturing and Transportation) in the eighth grade.

The technology center facility was completed in preparation of the 2002-3 school year and this was the first major task in beginning the program. According to Thielke, the next step became the application of the equipment and software plan. The final step has been the implementation of curriculum, equipment and software throughout this new facility using ?modular? (individualized) instruction.

The Modules cover the following topics:

• Communications: TV Production, Communication Systems, Radio Production, Computer-Aided Design, Digital Photography, Advertising and Computer Graphics;
  
• Construction: Structural Analysis, Construction Systems, Superstructures, Structural Design, Infrastructures and Construction Planning;
  
• Manufacturing: Material Analysis, Manufacturing Systems, Packaging Design, Product Design and Robotics Programming;
  
• Transportation: Flight Simulator, Transportation Systems, Power Systems, Energy Conversion, Propulsion Systems, Aerodynamics and Alternative Energy.

Thielke says that the integration of the modular curriculum, along with a top-notch facility, equipment and software plan, better enables the students ?to grow in their knowledge, understanding, ability to utilize and integrate, and apply appropriate technologies.?

Offering More

Brown Deer is located in a down-to-earth, blue-collar community where many students will find a bright future in jobs working with new technologies. The concept of offering more such education at the middle school level was an idea that fit well with the area and the needs of the community.

In 2001, Thielke was recruited from a high school technology program to renovate and revamp Brown Deer?s traditional industrial arts program. One clear reason for the overhaul was the desire to create an exemplary program that would attract attention?and attendance.

?Kids can elect to go to any school they want in our district,? says Thielke. ?What we want to say is ?Here?s a reason to go to Brown Deer.??

Students who like a challenge are tailor-made for this program. According to Thielke, ?there?s no doubt that this is a high school curriculum being offered as an opportunity for the middle school kids. My eighth graders are now doing the same work as my tenth graders did.?

Not Doing It Alone

The support of local industry has been invaluable in seeing the Brown Deer Middle School Technology Center become a reality. More than $100,000 was donated for the facility and equipment, in addition to other hardware?including 29 computers.

Several grants from the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) were vital, as well as more than $10,000 in material donations from others in the manufacturing industry.

According to Ken Starkman, Technology Education Consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Instructor Jeff Thielke is ?always providing links between his school and the community and industry.

?He weaves a web to support his program? says Starkman, ?which has helped strengthen what he does with the students.?

Furthermore, Starkman notes Thielke?s ability to empower his students to find knowledge on their own is a helpful addition to the middle school environment.

?So many students have requirements to meet beginning at middle school. We really need dynamic teachers like Jeff to inspire kids with activities and initiatives. It really helps gear [the students] up for high school.?

Sidebar to Article

A look at the high-level, challenging courses offered by Brown Deer Technology Center to students from sixth grade through eighth grade:

EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

(Communications, Manufacturing, Transportation and Construction)?Modular

This course is divided into four segments: six weeks of communications, four weeks of construction, four weeks of manufacturing and four weeks of transportation. Areas of emphasis in communications are computer-aided graphics/design, digital photography and printing. Area of emphasis in construction will be tower design. Areas of emphasis in manufacturing will be structural design in packaging and plastics recycling. Area of emphasis in transportation will be critical thinking and problem solving involving mechanical devices.

INTRODUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY I

(Communications and Construction)?Modular

This course is divided into two segments: 12 weeks of communications and six weeks of construction. Areas of emphasis in Communication Technology will be computer-aided drafting/design, computer-generated graphics, advertising, radio and television commercials, scanning and digital photography. Areas of emphasis in Construction Technology will be architectural design, residential model and commercial bridge design. Critical thinking and problem-solving activities are incorporated in both areas.

INTRODUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY II

(Manufacturing & Transportation)?Modular

This course is divided into two segments: six weeks of manufacturing and twelve weeks of transportation. Areas of emphasis in manufacturing will be research & development, product development and material and processes in the area of wood technology. Plastics Manufacturing is introduced in the areas of: thermoforming, vacuum forming, static casting, simple casting and slush casting. Areas of emphasis in transportation will be cars, rockets and boats. Critical thinking and problem-solving activities are incorporated into both areas.

TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS I

(Communications and Construction)?Modular

This course focuses on two areas in Communications and Construction. The first area in Communications is graphic design, where students produce a multicolor T-shirt transfer and business cards, in addition to a calendar that incorporates digital, scanned and clip-art graphics. Working in teams in the area of advertising design is also emphasized. The second area is electronic communications, where students produce audio and video programs in a studio setting. In the area of Construction, architectural model design is emphasized.

TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS II

(Manufacturing & Transportation)?Modular

This course provides the students with the opportunity to simulate processing procedures used in industry. Areas of emphasis will be: manufacturing computer simulation, research & development, management, quality control and engineering. The class will function as a company and manufacture a product in the area of wood technology. Plastics Manufacturing is broadened in the areas of vacuum forming, static casting, dip casting, rotational molding, expansion molding and hand lay-up laminating. In the area of Transportation, students are provided a broad overview of both energy sources and transportation. Students will design, construct and test working a land vehicle (car), a marine vehicle (boat), and air vehicle (powered airplane).