Yesterday, the New Tech 11th Grade ELA class traveled to Lowry Solutions in Brighton to present their ideas for new use cases for RFID technology (Lowry's industry). Students proposed ideas that would leverage RFID chips to minimize plastic waste, help find lost jewelry, track employee productivity, provide emergency access to medical information, glean customer insight, and more. Many of our New Tech Juniors are also active in the PCHS Cybersecurity program, and their knowledge in this area was notably present in presentations.
The Lowry audience, largely the management team, asked probing questions, and the students answered them with ease. Lowry leaders expressed that this group had some of the strongest ideas they've seen in years of presentations. The group dressed to impress, and unsurprisingly, most students presented with a level of comfort many adults can't claim.
The partnership between Pinckney New Tech and Lowry Solutions, described in the article "Project-Based & Place-Based Learning in New Tech Schools," which I wrote in 2016, continues to be a model for others for how to tie a business partner into a project-based unit and to marry the effort with internship opportunities.
We are proud that this partnership endures and look forward to continuing to ensure it thrives. Many presenters expressed interest in a summer internship at the conclusion of their presentation yesterday, and we look forward to a strong summer 2019 cohort!