Kate Peyser

Editorial: Hands-on instruction builds learning culture
High school courses plant seeds of educational opportunity

Students at Royal Valley High School north of Topeka are growing peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and other plants in a horticulture greenhouse program that illustrates the value of hands-on education.

The short-term outgrowth at Royal Valley, and more than 40 other Kansas high schools with similar plant system instructional programs, is a lovely salad from the garden. Long-term benefits to this form of applied instruction in gardening, construction, automotive repair, education, the arts and other fields are nourishing for the mind.

This experiential model delivers an engaging environment for learning outside typical classrooms.  The approach has been linked to higher attendance and grade-point averages, as well as better student and parent interaction with schools and teachers.

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Joliet Central High School Auto Tech Students Revved Up for State-of-the-Art Equipment
Joliet Central High School Auto Tech students in the STEM Academy are gaining relevant hands-on industry automotive experience thanks to a new tire changer and balancing equipment located on-site in the school automotive shop. Manufactured by Hunter Engineering Co., a leader in under-car service equipment, these new machines represent the latest in cutting-edge technology and can be found in the vast majority of quality automotive repair shops.

“Tire changing and balancing is a basic skill of automotive maintenance,” said Auto Tech Instructor Milton George. “The new state-of-the-art equipment provides the auto students with the opportunity to gain real hands-on experience using tools they will come across in the work place. I feel that this is a great opportunity for the students to learn new concepts and skills on the very same equipment that they will be using should they choose to continue in the automotive field.”

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