Distance Learning Innovations: Recent Episodes
David Casey
Interviews with high school shop, engineering, and Maker teachers who are overcoming the challenge of teaching hands-on, project-based courses in a virtual online environment.
David Ballantine of Anderson Valley Jr. and Sr. High School in Booneville talks about integrating computer drawing and manufacturing into his woodshop courses.
Beyond demonstrating simple car tune-up procedures, Casa Grande auto shop teacher Jim Rolle connects his students to the personal and professional skills needed in the workplace.
In this highlight episode, I take time to reflect on the power of shop classes and their role in the general education program.
Ron Bilberry teaches many different courses and programs at Arch Bishop Hanna High School in Sonoma. He shares his most important philosophy for success: the well being of his students takes precedent over the content of the course.
Peter Oliver, co-founder of Switch Electric Vehicles, talks about his company's mission to educate and inspire students to be the innovators of tomorrow.
Tom Edwards of Sonoma Valley High School utilizes his first career experience as an engineer/technician for the Military and a marketing rep for General Electric to provide real world job skills to his engineering students.
Sean Vezino of Windsor High gets to the core of a hands-on engineering class as he provides support for his students online.
John Williams of Piner High School describes the challenge of completing long term projects in a distance learning environment.
Maker teacher Walt Hays of Analy High School explains how Art projects can inject a little fun into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math content of the 21st century shop class.
Keith Benson of Petaluma High School describes how success in auto shop stems from a combination of perseverance, problem solving, and application of knowledge.
Cole Smith of Rancho Cotate High School describes how a variety of hands-on projects and applications become virtual during the Covid-19 shutdown of in class learning.