Throughout this first nine weeks of school for the 2020-21 academic year, Beaver County Career & Technology students have been attending their elected programs online, regardless if they are a new or returning student. Students, parents, and other educators have all asked, “How are you going to teach career and technical education virtually?” Thankfully, here at BCCTC, our teachers, professionals from their own respective industries, are creative and have come up with some incredible ways for their students to be engaged with this new learning platform.
Our next ‘featured teacher’ is Mr. George Metz, Machine Tool Technology instructor and BotsIQ Advisor. Mr. Metz started the nine weeks getting his student’s accounts activated so that they can begin work on obtaining their OSHA-10 certification. Since then, he has been demonstrating to the students each day, integrating the math equations and measurements required to problem solve the work of a machinist and/or CNC operator.
More importantly, Mr. Metz has arranged for his instruction to showcase the industrial roles each of his students may find themselves in after graduation. Careers such as a…
· PROGRAMMER in which someone does the calculations and makes the program for a precision part to be made
· SET UP Person inputs the program into the machine and clamps the raw materials that is run through the program for the machine to make the desired part
· OPERATOR makes sure that the part is being made to the specific size
Students have been observing the uses of a(n):
- Band Saw that cuts materials to the size required for the desired product; In our program, MTT students witnessed a 12 ft. pipe cut to a 1 ft. pipe.
- Arbor Press or a bending machine for bending metal.
- CNC Milling Machine which takes rough-cut pieces to make the practical use of metal for the part that is needed for the project.
- Bridgeport Milling Machine to drill holes in stainless steel.
- Manual Lathe to machine parts to the required size.
When Machine Tool Technology students return to the program, Mr. Metz wants them to go ‘back to basics’. “My new students have yet to work on one of these machines and my returning students will need a refresher,” Mr. Metz says. “All students should go back to basics to get reacquainted or acquainted with the lab area and the uses of each machine. Safety first!”
One of the first hands-on projects the students will have to work on is threading. However, (trumpet sounds), new to the program this year is a CNC Plasma Table and Mr. Metz is anxiously awaiting for the return of his students so that they can work on additional but different projects than in the past!
Machine Tool Technology students, Mr. Metz and the BCCTC staff is looking forward to you returning to the program! We can’t wait to see what types of designs and ideas you come up with for that plasma cutter! Until then, stay safe…