CTE Center expands to advance future technology programs
Engineering gallery is pictured at CTE Center on Jan. 24, 2023. (Kaylehn Molitor)
The clock strikes 10:30 a.m., and as the first period of the school day comes to an end, students at the FISD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center finish engineering 3D models, animating stop motion characters, and coding video games. To accommodate the rise of technology within classrooms, FISD plans to expand its CTE Center.
The CTE expansion project started in the Summer of 2022 to develop future-ready courses.
“We plan on making the center bigger and growing new programs,” said Camry Mullens, Crossland Construction Company Inc. project engineer.
Over the last 22 years, the technology industry is consistently the fastest-growing industry in the world. When you take a closer look, career paths such as engineering and animation have had many additions. The growth of Artificial (AI) and new automation programs are increasingly valuable and relevant to students who participate in technology classes.
With this emphasis on technology worldwide, the expansion project plans to provide students with more resources for technology-based programs.
“Specifically, there is a lot of new unique technology and software,” said Mullens.
“We are adding flat-screen televisions, cameras, and an [individual] esports room.”
Additionally, the CTE plans on increasing classroom workspace.
“Right now our classes are pretty full at engineering,” said Forrest Medcalf, Intro to Engineering Design teacher. “If there are more seats, people can come in on an intro level and we’ll be able to offer [a wider variety of courses].”
Many students believe that extending the facility increases the number of people within technology programs.
“Having more room would promote classes, and more people would join and realize that [they] have a chance in this field,” said Athena Chen, sophomore Animation one student.
For other students in technology-oriented courses, building the new CTE makes their work more convenient.
“This gives us more room to work with the equipment, especially with hard cutting, it would also give more office space for projects,” said Srinidhi Ponmurugarajan, senior Engineering Design and Development student.
The district plans to incorporate new equipment within the extended CTE building, a move that students believe is necessary for their futures in technology industries.
“I wish we had tablets that we could use instead of just using the mouse,” said Chen. “Adding more equipment will help me because when you get a real job in animation, that is what you use in the industry.”
For creative technology programs such as animation at CTE, educators hope that the added space is more inclusive.
“I would like to see more of an art template and more tools for them to be creative with their art,” said Yolanda Barnaby, Animation one teacher.
To incorporate global databases and advancements into classroom learning, some teachers believe that CTE should feature AI.
“AI and [programs] where we would tie in engineering with computer science and bring them together would be good,” said Medcalf.
Overall, the inclusion of new programs, high-quality resources, and accommodation has allowed the CTE to successfully embrace
technology within its facility.
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