Local teacher receives national award
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Michael Gallagher is a technology teacher at Saratoga Springs High School. Among other things, his approach is known as problem based learning.
"We typically try to give the students a set of skills and have them apply them as quickly as possible," said teacher Michael Gallagher.
He's also the recipient of a Building the Future award based on his exceptional teaching method in the classroom. But he says it's not really all about him.
"The interesting thing about being a teacher is it's what the students have done, it's not what I've done that you get an award for," said Gallagher.
So we decided to see just what these students were up to, in this high-tech hands on class. This project all started with sketches.
"From there we're going to create our own puzzle pieces like the other ones displayed around the room, and we're going to work as a group to make our own parts and put it together to actually make it," said student Colin MacNicoll.
"You have to sketch out each individual part and then make them on the computer and eventually we will be printing them out and they're going to be cut out on a laser cutter on pieces of wood," said Ted Battesh.
So indeed there was a laser machine, taking images from computer and actually cutting out the sketches, reading the design almost as it were a printer. One example, a 3D elephant head.
"We individually made each piece on this program after we made each piece and a 3D model, we put them all together in a separate file that uses different physical constraints to fix them all together," said student Mike Hogan.
Courses under this curriculum include digital electronics, principals of engineering, and computer integrated manufacturing, and with all this technology constantly moving forward, it's a great way for students to use their understanding to solve real problems.
"This is a great way for the kids to go and apply real world skills, where in a traditional classroom. A lot has to be done through a textbook. Here we have an opportunity for them to get their hands in and to really do things and experience real problem solving," said Gallagher.
Gallagher will travel to a national award ceremony to be recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation. He says, it's all about student achievement as well.