West Salem offers a multitude of of Technology Education classes. Tech Ed classes are some of the most hands-on classes in the school, teaching students skills they can use for the trades industry and personal projects. West Salem has three categories of tech classes: automotives, welding and metal work, and woods and construction. Each has several classes in each category.
Automotive Fundamentals is a class that students can take starting sophomore year. Currently students are working on soldering wire circuits and learning how to diagnose a circuit failure. Teacher Scott Martin shows students how he tests the wires with a voltameter to see where the current stops.
Another project they have worked on is building circuits. They soldered and heat shrink wrapped a circuit comprising of a battery, resistor, and LED. They will use the testing skills to trouble shoot problems in cars to make the most efficient repairs in cars, and their soldiering skills for fixing wiring in cars. “We learn some practical stuff, unlike some other classes,” says Senior Josh Horman. “It’s good practical knowledge, stuff we’re gonna need to know how to do.”
Some of the classes offered are dual-credit with Western Technical College, meaning if students complete the course with a C or better, they earn college credits. Currently, they are in a drywall unit. This includes building a wall frame, cutting the drywall panels to size, hanging the drywall, and then taping, mudding, and sanding the walls to have a smooth texture. They will also damage the drywall to learn different techniques to patch a hole in the wall. At the end, they get to destroy the drywall structure for fun. They will use these skills in residential construction work. Senior Ian Nickles says, “We get to learn a lot of different stuff in the construction industry. Pretty much everything that you learn here you can take and use in the future.”
Metals Technology is continuing to work on learning three different types of welding, SMAW, TIG, and wire-feed as well as choosing and completing a project with sheet metal. Martin says he teaches students skills they will use both in their careers and in their life.
These classes are important because they give students the opportunity to pick up skills they will use in a future job. This makes them more prepared and at an advantage to go into the career field.