43
Welding, robotics, 3-D printing new topics for Lowellville students
LOWELLVILLE
Classroom 43 at Lowellville schools has gone through $60,000 worth in changes the past decade.
Geno Thomas, superintendent of Lowellville schools, said the classroom houses a “constantly evolving” tech lab for middle-school and high-school students.
“The board of education has committed that money to that room in an effort to expand students’ knowledge in those kinds of career fields,” Thomas said.
Rich Popio, teacher and technology coordinator at Lowellville schools, has taught in that classroom since the school was built about 10 years ago. He said he’s watched the room progress from a basic classroom to a modern tech lab, filled with robots, model airplanes, bridges and computers. Most recently, Popio said the school purchased a 3-D printer and welding simulator for the classroom.
“What we’re trying to accomplish is to remain current,” Thomas said. “These items help us stay relevant.”
Popio said classroom 43 houses most of the science, technology, engineering and math-related electives at the high school such as its robotics, computer-aided design, bridge building, welding and industrial technology classes. He said the STEM-related electives replaced old electives from the late ’90s such as wood shop, which he used to teach, he said.
“When schools did away with shop class, there was not much for kids to do electivewise that was hands-on,” Popio said. “So now, the modules in this classroom and technology give kids something to build or do with their hands.”
Christine Sawicki, assistant principal at Lowellville schools, said the school purchased both the 3-D printer and welding simulator last spring to be placed in the classroom this fall.
“Our real goal with the classroom is to move Lowellville schools into the 21st century and incorporate STEM fields for our kids,” Sawicki said. “We want them to get ready for real-world work by letting them see if they like these fields before they take on a career.”
Sawicki said welding is a new elective he offers high-school students because of the new technology.
Popio said Lowellville is the only school district in Mahoning County that has a welding simulator for students.
“The simulator is almost lifelike,” he said. “You get an idea of what real welding is like by wearing that helmet and using the rod.”
Had the school not purchased the welding device, Popio said he doubts he could teach kids welding. He said real welding is “very, very expensive” to teach since it costs a lot of money to replace rods and steel plates.
“The only expense with the simulator is the cost of the machine itself.”
Popio said a small group of students from his robotics class also hopes to start a club next school year. He said the kids already have competed before as a class in Columbus.
Popio said the biggest challenge to starting a robotics club will be competing for time with athletics.
“The problem with competitions is that our kids — as this is a small school — need to participate in a lot of clubs and sports,” he explained. “It’s hard to pull the kids away from some of their other teams for a robotics competition.”
Sawicki said Lowellville schools plans to further expand its robotics program in January by adding a class on the topic to its middle-school students.