New strategies

Districts push robotics, computers

Wayne: Northville cultivates engineers

By Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

    NORTHVILLE — Northville High School students could always take traditional vocational education classes, such as auto shop. But this year, they have a new option: a three-part applied technology course that begins with design and ends up in the manufacturing lab.

    It’s the maiden year for the program, which opened in the fall at the district’s new high school building.

    “We started this up because everything is technology-related now,” said teacher James Conzelman. “This gives students an idea what the technology is all about.”

    The program is run in three separate classrooms.

    “The kids design parts, then work through them in computer-assisted drafting classes and wind up in manufacturing lab,” said Assistant Principal Dennis Colligan. “We have students in here who will pursue careers in engineering.”

    Dan Myers is one of those students.

    “This program really has made me look at engineering,” the Northville senior said. “I’ve applied to quite a few engineering schools and I’m looking at co-op situations where I work for Ford or Chrysler or an engineering company while I’m going to classes.

    “This is something that’ll give me a jump on most of the people out there.”

    Conzelman said the program includes basic training in courses such as traditional drafting all the way up to advanced manufacturing, where students program computers to make a lathe cut, for example.

    “This can be for college-bound kids or for good-paying jobs right out of high school in a small shop,” he said.

    Northville students in the program built a robot and recently shipped it to the Epcot Center at Disneyworld, where a team will take part in a robotics competition.

    The applied technology program attracted 150 students in its first year and numbers are expected to increase as word gets out, Colligan said.