Vermont Business Magazine US Secretary of Education John B King Jr has announced 10 winners in the $200,000 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Makeover Challenge at the Champions of Change for Making event, including Burlington Technical Center (BTC). The Challenge called for high schools to create models for transforming classrooms or other spaces into MakerSpaces - places where students create and learn through making, with access to the tools to design, build and innovate, while acquiring 21st Century career skills.
"Designing a collaborative space for students to create and invent is the intent for our MakerSpace,” Burlington Technical Center Director Tracy Racicot commented. “Bringing innovation to schools and creating a community of learners that identify and solve problems is key in preparing students for their future.”
BTC will receive $20,000 in cash, as well as a portion of in-kind prizes from a $378,000 sponsor prize pool, to help build or renovate its MakerSpace. The Technical Center will renovate classroom and shop spaces, previously occupied by the Building Trades Program, to be equipped with a wide range of tools for creating, including computers, a large scale printer, 3D printer, saws and sewing machines.
Over 640 schools entered the first round of the challenge. after which eligible schools were invited to participate in a six-week boot camp exploring MakerSpace topics, designing a MakerSpace, engaging the community, developing a budget and creating projects that build making skills. Schools then submitted a blueprint to be considered for selection and prizes. BTC will produce and submit a video tour of its constructed model for use in the CTE MakerSpace Showcase, to be held at the World Maker Faire in New York City in October.
The Burlington Technical Center CTE Makeover Team, led by Adam Provost (Burlington School District), included Courtney Asaro (Flynn Elementary School), Lucie Delabruere (Consultant, VITA-Learn Regional & MakerSpace Coordinator), Justin Gonyea (BTC), Lars Hasselblad Torres (Burlington Generator),Tracy Racicot (BTC), Chris Sharp (Burlington High School), Colby Skoglund (Burlington High School) and Doug Webster (Champlain Maker Faire, RETN, National Association for Workforce Improvement).
More information available at www.ctemakeoverchallenge.com.
Source: Burlington Technical Center 6.17.2016