Name: Andy Botticelli, Industrial Design Teacher School: Shawsheen Valley Technical School, Billerica, Massachusetts Impact: Pro/DESKTOP helps students increase math scores
There is no way around it. For some kids, math does not come easy. But in today's world, where states are increasingly requiring students to pass standardized tests, all students have to demonstrate at least a some competency in mathematics to receive a dipolma.
That's led administrators to develop a variety of programs to help kids tackle and master their struggles in math. Shawsheen Valley Technical High School has decided to take a hands-on approach to helping its students improve their math scores - literally. The school used its resources as vocational school to develop an intensive summer math program where the students learned about math through shop classes like plumbing, industrial design and culinary arts. For instance, in the plumbing class the students bend pipe to learn about how angles formed. In an industrial design class, the students used 3-D modeling software to learn about volume.
"It's one thing to tell a kid that volume in a cartoon of milk changes whenever you alter one of the dimensions, but the kids 'get it' when they see it happen before their eyes," said Andy Botticelli, a design teacher at the school. "For some kids, it's hard to conceptualize math concepts on a blackboard. They need learn through a more interactive experience."
To teach his students concepts like how to calculate volume, Botticelli uses a 3-D computer aided design software program called Pro/DESKTOP, made by PTC a Needham, Massachusetts-based company. The software allows Botticelli and his students draw a 3-D image of a milk cartoon or a bottle on a computer screen. Then the students can see how altering the height or width of the box effect the cartoon volume. It is a math concept that may be hard to see on a blackboard, but it is easy to understand once the students can visualize all three dimensions.
How successful is the summer math program? In this case, the numbers speak for themselves. Better than 80% of the students who took program improved their math scores and 44% of the kids saw their scores jump by at least two grade levels.
"We have enjoyed a lot of success with our summer math program, raising kids math skills and preparing them for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment tests," said Charlie Regan, the program's administrator. "PTC's Pro/DESKTOP has certainly been an important part of our success."
As for Botticelli, his familiarity with the software goes deeper than just the summer sessions. Botticelli uses Pro/DESKTOP in his industrial design class, through PTC's Design and Technology in School's Program. Gone are the t-squares and compasses of yesteryear and in their place are powerful computer aided design (CAD) programs capable of designing anything from a cardboard box to a steam engine.
"Before I became a teacher, I worked a draftsman, where I had chance to evaluate several CAD programs." Botticelli said. "So when I arrived a Shawsheen, I knew that I wanted to use Pro/DESKTOP in the classroom. The software is easy to use and PTC has been great about providing all of the support that I need to use the program in my classroom."
PTC's Design and Technology in Schools Program grants free seats of easy-to-use Pro/DESKTOP software to middle and high schools, as well as affordable teacher-led training and support, classroom materials and opportunities to collaborate with other schools around the world.
Figure 1: The basic body for a robot, created by one of Andy Botticelli's students using Pro/DESKTOP
Since ultimately 90 percent of Botticelli's students go on to college, he needs a program that is robust enough to provide his students with CAD foundation blocks they need to ease their transition into higher education. In addition, the software needs to be easy enough to use so it does not overwhelm his sophomores and juniors.
Figure 2: Student design for a handrail clamp, created in Pro/DESKTOP
"Although Pro/DESKTOP is easy enough to use that anybody who knows how to turn on a computer can use the software, but it's strong enough package that my kids can design pretty much anything they want," Botticelli said. "They are only limited by their imagination and their desire."
Botticelli adds, "It's great seeing that moment when a kid gets it. They have an idea in their head about what they want to design, and the software helps them get there. And along they learn a little math."
