Technology Education Seminar Held At NMS

By Eliza Hallabeck

A gathering of technology education instructors took place at Newtown Middle School on Tuesday, May 8, for a Connecticut Technology Education Association Workshop.

NMS technology education instructor Don Ramsey said his classroom was requested for the day’s gathering, and to welcome the instructors both NMS Principal Diane Sherlock and Mr Ramsey gave remarks before the day’s workshop began. Before him, in seats normally taken up by seventh and eighth grade students, sat his fellow instructors.

“Wow,” he said. “It is so gratifying having folks from all over the state come by Newtown to see us.”

Mr Ramsey was also asked to give a description of the technology education program in Newtown during the workshop. Other speakers during the day included Jenn Caffrey, who spoke about green architecture, and Jim Hutson, who spoke about Connecticut’s Technology Student Association. The instructors also shared teaching strategies, and more.

When Ms Sherlock started her tenure at NMS almost 13 years ago, she said, wood shop was taught in what is now the technology education classroom. When the wood shop teacher left, the position was posted, and, as the administration began interviewing for the replacement, she said they knew they wanted to broaden the scope of the curriculum. Despite some backlash from the community, Ms Sherlock said, wood shop was replaced with what is now the technology education program.

“We know that Don Ramsey makes a real difference,” said Ms Sherlock, who also thanked all of the instructors in the room for their part in bringing technology education to their own schools.

Mr Ramsey later explained how he came to teach technology education at NMS. In 1997 he returned to teach in the classroom in Norwalk after a stint as an administrator. He taught in a wood shop, and he felt the subject did not get the respect it deserved from the community. Mr Ramsey said he was going through a real low point in his career, until one day he brought in a red laser pointer to school. His students were fascinated.

Picking up on the interest of the students, Mr Ramsey aligned the course to match the students’ personalities. Leaning on what he had learned in college and read in trade publications, Mr Ramsey said he knew intuitively that industrial arts had the capability of branching across subject matter, from math and science to all aspects of life.

Education, Mr Ramsey said, fundamentally has to center around people.

“All I needed to do was dig a little bit,” said Mr Ramsey.

Little by little, he said, a transition happened. After attending a workshop about the importance of connecting with people, Mr Ramsey started by calling parents when students were doing well in his classes. That alone, he said, was enormously powerful.

As his classroom in Norwalk began to develop, parents started to hear more about it from students, and the community gradually became more involved, especially after open houses were held.

Mr Ramsey started attending flea markets, stopping in at local shops and asking people to donate technology items for him to use within his classroom. Nearly every time, he said, people chose to support education.

“The only thing good about me,” said Mr Ramsey, “is I care about education.”

The premade lessons and curriculum began to evolve around the students.

“The whole purpose of teaching,” Mr Ramsey said, “is to inspire a young mind to want to learn more.”

Now surrounded by student projects and other interactive features in his classroom at NMS, Mr Ramsey said, he sees the subject area as a treasure.

While driving through Fairfield Hills one day with his son, who was then 12 years old, Mr Ramsey said his son suggested he needed a change, and Reed Intermediate School, which was being completed at the time, seemed perfect. After e-mailing the then-assistant superintendent, Mr Ramsey was told of the open position at Newtown Middle School. He interviewed with Ms Sherlock and two other administrators, presented a lesson that was judged by students, and later signed his contract.

“When I walked into this school, I immediately felt the warmth,” said Mr Ramsey. When he first saw the room that would become his technology education classroom, Mr Ramsey saw tremendous potential.

There are many people, Mr Ramsey said, who support the work done by teachers.

Lunch was also served for the group during the day’s workshop, and an evaluation and wrap-up was held at the end of the day.