One of our biggest contributors is SIMC Training Systems, an Ohio-based company that supplies educational equipment. This firm worked with me for many hours, demonstrating their equipment and even helping to install and teach proper operational procedures. Finally, educational products from Kelvin Electronics are extensively integrated into the instructional experiences of the lab. Without firms like these, I believe technology education in the high schools would be years behind. Now that construction is finished, my Exploration in Technology curriculum is being used, fully exploiting the capabilities of our new lab.
Organization is key to exploration-oriented instructional programs.
The key to this program is self-paced learning. I also keep an individual notebook for each student, which includes quite a few testing, vocabulary and study-question student worksheets. Many hours were spent making a student's experience with each module smooth and enjoyable. I employ a ten-day rotation process in which students pair off and rotate together through various modules. Problem-solving activities are incorporated between the rotations.