Building Project

Windsor CSD’s partnership with Cornell University to develop career-ready skills in students will continue for a second school year.
The two institutions came together last summer to develop WCHS’s first-ever Manufacturing Economics course. They will spend this summer working to improve the curriculum.

“We're asking, 'What do you guys need? What can we do to help next year?' They mentioned measurement skills – so we’ll develop activities do help with that,” said Mark Walsh, Education Outreach Coordinator at Cornell Center for Materials Research.

Windsor Manufacturing Economics teachers Kateri Sibley and Jim Schmitt will travel to Cornell this summer to develop applied manufacturing activities.

“We’ll take this time to reflect on what is feasible for kids to do, what are the most relevant skills, and how can we teach that in a way that is accessible to them,” said Sibley.

The educators learned lessons from the first year of the course. Schmitt would like to add sturdier material in the class’ projects next year. Sibley learned ways to improve the marketing of the class’ signature product – hand-made Adirondack Chairs.

“It will be more structured next year. We have a better idea of what kids don’t know and what we need to do to teach them. It will have more hands-on activities and more learning experiences, more inquiry and more problem-solving,” said Sibley.

A grant from Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) is supporting this effort between Cornell University and the Windsor CSD.  NYSTAR grants for workforce development seek to fund efforts to bring awareness of different manufacturers around the area and the skills they are seeking.

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