COSI’s Innovation Showcase now has a brand new PLTW display.  COSI, located in downtown Columbus, is the premiere science museum in Ohio. Indian Valley Middle School (IVMS) students A. J. Moore, Emily Probert, Jeremy Leishman, and Brock Metzger, as participants in the 2009 Freight Elevator Challenge, used FIshertechniks technology to write a computer program, and to design, wire, and build a fully functional scale model freight elevator. Their work is currently on display with other innovators at COSI.  The Innovation Showcase features corporate and academic innovations from around the state.   

The PLTW students, led by Marilyn Kramer, IVMS Science and PLTW teacher, loved the process and gained much from it, Kramer said.    “My students love the Automation and Robotics class--it provides them with real life applications of science, technology, engineering and math.” 

Student A.J. Moore found the learning experience to be fun, but challenging.  “This was a sobering experience because we found out what the working life was actually like,” A.J. said.    “You don’t get breaks and second chances.  When it’s due, it’s due.”  The collaboration necessary to complete the project was also on his mind as a big part of the experience of putting together the freight elevator.  “For this project,” he said, “you need engineers who can work well together and be civil to each other, which you find out in this class isn’t always the easiest thing to do.” 

Teacher Marilyn Kramer is very grateful to have had the opportunity to help her middle school students grow and learn through the project.  And, because of her efforts and the exposure at this early age to the fun and challenges of engineering, her students are already, even in middle school, making decisions about the direction in which they want their lives to go.  “Because of the experiences we had in PLTW’s Automation and Robotics class,” said A.J., “we’ve all decided that someday we are going to become engineers.” 

What better gift could any teacher have?