TIDE Program at Somers High School Named 2012 CTEA/ITEEA Program of the Year

The Technology Innovation Design and Engineering Program at has been recognized as the 2012 CT Technology Education Association/International Technology Engineering Education Association Program of the year.

This honor is issued yearly to an outstanding high school program that engages students in engineering and design concepts that are focused on 21st century skills, has a staff that is actively involved in Professional Development activities, and has the support of the local educational community.

Somers High School was recognized at the ITEEA Conference on March 15 in Long Beach, CA. The Technology Innovation Design and Engineering staff attended this event to receive this honor on behalf of the students, staff and the Somers community.

High school technology teacher Roy Slater said that this honor is a result of many years of dedicated work and support from the administration, staff, Somers Educational Foundation, business and industry, and the Somers community.

He said that five years ago, the decision was made to redesign the program’s vision, curriculum, facilities, technology and equipment to provide challenging instructional activities that will prepare the students with the critical skills to be successful in tomorrow’s workforce and post-secondary programs.

The projection for implementation was four years and at this point in time only one course has not been realized and efforts continue in bringing in additional technologies to support the programs mission. It is forecasted that the program will reach its full potential over the next few years.

The program has courses that are woven into three specific pathways that empower individuals to focus within either the Visual Media Design or Engineering fields. Within the Visual Media Design pathway, classes are focused on design strategies, independent learning techniques and advanced technology that provides a strong foundation in print, web, digital photography and interactive media fields. The Engineering pathway provides students the opportunity to explore engineering from two avenues; one being driven by machine application processes and strategies while the other is driven by theoretical/digital techniques supported by a prototype/fabrication process to support innovation and design. 

The labs have been, and continue to be, redesigned and upgraded with technology to support the program’s mission. The infusion of technology has affected the activities by increasing student expectations, bringing new approaches and processes to solutions generated, and the addition of a new course in robotics that is being offered next year to the students. At the current time, the robotics work is being done after school in a club setting.

Although the program is still in its infancy, the newly acquired technologies have been fully implemented within all areas increasing student performance and advanced understandings of manufacturing concepts.

Slater said that feedback from students that have left the program for post-secondary plans have shared with the staff that their experiences have prepared them for their college programs.

The VEX Robotics club participated in its first challenge at Manchester High School and also the State VEX challenge at Central Connecticut State University.

Slater said that the students received the judge’s award and also a finalists award for making it to the finals. He added that there were 30 teams at the competition, and that most of them have been competing for several years. This was Somers’ first time at the competition.

“The kids did well,” he said. “This will be a competition we will enter on a yearly basis. Not only did they participate, but they were recognized for their efforts and also did pretty good within the fabric of being a first year team.”

Slater said that the Technology Education Program at Somers High School has always been identified as a leader within the professional community. As with the changing world of technology, the field of technology education continues to change. The 2012 CTEA/ITEEA Program of the Year award used the newly adopted criteria of engineering concepts and STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Math) instruction being provided.

“Somers High School’s TIDE Program continues the tradition of leadership within our professional community,” Slater said.