Lisle technical school helps Naperville students learn about engines
The entire fifth-grade class of Naperville's Ranch View Elementary School recently put their critical thinking, design and technology skills to the test during a hands-on field trip to the Lisle campus of Universal Technical Institute.
Students worked to disassemble and assemble a Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engine, learning what tools to use and how each part in the engine works.
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam visited with the students at the start of the program and encouraged them to ask how and why complex machines work. During the program, sponsored in cooperation with the national Hot Rodders of Tomorrow organization, the students also participated in a variety of transportation-related science, technology, engineering and math activities.
"We are a nation of builders, designers and innovators, but we don't do a great job of encouraging students to think critically, work with their hands and understand the why of how things work," Roskam said.
"At the local level, we can be so much more effective in providing learning opportunities like this great program that help our kids get excited about science, technology, engineering and math."
UTI partnered with Hot Rodders and Briggs & Stratton on the program, which was designed to enrich the educational experience of local classrooms. In addition to learning how engines work, the activity encouraged students to develop their communication skills, improve teamwork and self-esteem and gain a better appreciation for STEM fields.
UTI Lisle's campus president made sure the day's activities were open to girls, as well as boys.
"There is no good reason for it, but there is an overwhelming body of evidence that young girls, especially in elementary school, feel pressure to walk away from STEM fields," said Julie Mueller, campus president of UTI-Lisle.
"We can change that by mentoring young women, especially elementary-age girls, and making sure they have experiences that give them the confidence that they are as good, if not better, than boys in these fields."
Kids participating in the event got a first glance at a field that is rich in opportunities. Transportation technicians work in high-tech jobs that pay well, offer opportunities to build lifelong careers and are in demand.
The new U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report has more than tripled its 2014 estimate for the number of "new entrant" transportation technicians necessary to meet industry demand.
Industry employers in Illinois and across the nation cite the inability to find skilled technicians as the biggest challenge facing their employer-members because existing technicians are approaching retirement age and an inadequate number of young workers are being trained to take their place.
"For many businesses, workforce shortages are the biggest competitive threat they face," Mueller said. "To support those businesses, and our state's young people, we need to make more students and their parents aware of the opportunities in the skilled trades and support students of all ages in getting the kind of training that can open the door to rewarding and in-demand careers. We hope today's event was a step in that direction."