When Bay View, Burlington, and Bradley Tech high schools join forces with community resources, students solve real world challenges and learn real world skills in science, technology, engineering, math, agriculture, and construction. The 21st century workplace is a tough battleground, and a basic high school curriculum isn’t enough education for students to find real success in their careers. MPTV’s documentary, BLUEPRINT FOR TOMORROW’S EDUCATION, turns the spotlight on school and community partnerships leading the way to higher learning and workplace preparation.
Innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs throughout Wisconsin are explored, including Bay View High School’s construction, architecture, and technology (BAT Academy); Burlington High School’s BHS Chemicals Company; the Fluid Power Challenge, a fluid power technology skills competition for 8th grade students; and the “green” garage partnership between Bradley Tech HS, Lowe’s Foundation, the Helen Bader Foundation, and Growing Power. The half-hour documentary broadcasts on MPTV 10 HD on Wed., Feb. 10 at 7 pm and on 36.1 on Sun., Feb., 14 at 3:30 pm. The broadcast is followed by an encore airing of PRINCIPALS, VOL. 1 at 7:30 pm.
Bay View High School has a construction, architecture, and technology academy (BAT), featuring Project Lead the Way and an architecture computer lab. Construction students actually design and build a house off-site and sell it to low income families. The Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee and the Red Cat Board sponsor the academy. Starting this year, the BAT academy is going “green.” The BAT Academy has partnered with We Energies, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, and other higher education institutions to provide students with cutting-edge technology as they construct these homes.
Burlington High School houses the BHS Chemicals Company, where students manufacture various products. Project started with the development of a glass cleaner and has grown into a multifaceted product line ranging from cleaning products to person products such as hand lotion and shampoo. Currently, BHS Chemicals has a complete line of cleaning products that is sold to Burlington school district for all their custodial needs along with additional customers in the community.
The Fluid Power Challenge, a skills competition for 8th grade students, intended to expose students and teachers to engineering a solution to a problem solving using fluid power technology.
Students are encouraged to select high school courses in mathematics and the sciences that will lead to post-secondary studies and, possibly, careers in fluid power. The Challenge is meant to complement the fluids section in many science and technology curricula and give students the hands-on experience of designing, building and demonstrating a fluid-power based mechanism to solve an assigned problem.
The partnership between Bradley Tech HS, Lowe’s Foundation and Growing Power transforms communities by supporting people from diverse backgrounds and the environments in which they live through the development of Community Food Systems.
These systems, including the “green” garage with rooftop garden, provide high-quality, safe, healthy, affordable food for all residents in the community. Growing Power develops Community Food Centers, as a key component of Community Food Systems, through training, active demonstration, outreach, and technical assistance. Their goal is simple: to grow food, to grow minds, and to grow community. Growing Power began with a farmer, a plot of land, and a core group of dedicated young people.
Today, their love of the land and their dedication to sharing knowledge is changing lives in the Milwaukee area.
Since its inception, MPTV has educated, entertained, and inspired. Today, MPTV offers viewers a family of nine digital channels to choose from (10.1 HD, 36.1, 36.2 Vme, 36.3 World, 36.4 Create, 36.5 Classical, 36.6 Jazz, 36.7 Weather, 36.8 Traffic), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MPTV is a viewer-supported service of Milwaukee Area Technical College.
