SPOKANE, Wash. – This class offers tangible skills to help students secure jobs in the future.
“The skillset that employers are looking for in the trades not only in manufacturing but even in four year degrees is getting kids hands on. and i think we really are starting to get after that in this class in a variety of different ways.” Ferris Teacher Gary Gillespie said.
Students can use 3D printers, program a robotic farm system that will automatically water and weed plants, and work with shop tools.
The class is currently working on a project using piano parts that the students in Gillespie’s first-year class on reverse engineering took apart. The second-year class then takes those parts and creates something new with them.
“We’re using the parts of the piano to build things out of it… I’m building a little house,” Sophomore Aria Fortner said.
The class has helped students like Junior Blayton Park enjoy the challenge of working through difficulties when designing.
“I think it’s really important because… without trying it, how do you know you want to, cause for me those roadblocks, it’s kinda fun to overcome them, it’s so satisfying,” Park said.
The class also travels to industry partners to learn about real-life applications of what they are learning in class.
The student’s favorite part of the curriculum is their freedom to make what they want.
“This class is so hands-on, that you can really have so much creativity with it,” Park added.
