Engineering Tech Days Are Back!
After two COVID years off, Morrison Tech has happily welcomed area Junior High students onto their campus for Engineering Tech Days.
Several area Junior High Schools have sent their 7th-grade class to the college to participate in 6 STEM activities. Morrison Tech’s 7th Grade Engineering Tech Days began in 2014 as a way to introduce and inspire young students to follow academic and career paths in STEM – science, technology, engineering, and math. The college opened the campus up to the 7th graders this academic school year, 2021 – 2022, and quickly filled all sessions available. “Throughout the past years, the campus remained open and held in-person learning but allowing visitors on campus was limited. It has been a joy to have others on campus besides our college community – to bring back some sense of normalcy.” Chris Scott, President, said.
Morrison Tech faculty members and students opened their classrooms and labs to demonstrate different activities that engineering technologists perform. The students engaged in various hands-on activities including principles of building design, design process/prototype, microcontroller programming, robotics, manufacturing activities, construction materials, and engineering a bridge design. This experience is provided to the schools at no cost.
The 7th Graders learn in combined groups how engineering technicians help society and what role they play in the engineering field. Alongside the hands-on activities, the students apply engineering skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
The event kicks off with a welcome and an introduction to the college. Following the introduction, the students have four-morning breakout sessions. After a break for lunch, the students finished up with two more activities. The day concluded with a wrap-up from a faculty member.
As a premier engineering technology college, Morrison Tech is dedicated to STEM outreach for students. “Our goal is to get them excited,“ President Scott, said, “when you get them to do that, it’s amazing.”
Thus far this academic school year the college has hosted Prophetstown, Morrison, Erie, and Fulton 7th graders.
