Page 5 - TTMNJan2023

Construction
Teaching Today Minnesota | Winter 2023, Volume 1 Page 5

Jordan’s Building Trades Course

for nine educational courses. Students taking
this course may look ahead to education and
careers as contractors, plumbers, carpenters,
electricians, masons, project managers, and
engineers.
The Building Trades course has partnered
to create projects for both school and commu-
nity use.
For example, students have built a
storage shed for soccer equipment and re-shin-
gled, while adding new fascia, to the baseball
dugouts.
This semester, students will be putting
together two camper cabins for Cedar Lake
Farms (part of the Three Rivers Parks
District). The Three Rivers Park District is
providing the materials, and Jordan students
will be putting the cabins together to include
the 14' × 24' structure, bunk beds, and dining
area.
A local lumber yard has donated the
Jordan Public Schools ing experience. The Building Trades course materials for the camper cabins and other
The Building Trades course, started in the can be taken after applying to join the course. structures, such as yard sheds or chicken coop,
2021-2022 school year, is a part of our Summit Students taking the building trades course and upon completion, the lumber yard sells the
Academy program at Jordan High School. The gain experience in every aspect of construc- structures within the community. nity to learn about the trades in a hands-on
Summit Academy is an experiential career tion including surveying, concrete, rough Students learn and create in a workshop environment. This is the type of real-world
studies program aimed at highly motivated carpentry, plumbing, electrical, insulation, space at Jordan Public Schools. For larger proj- learning that we strive to offer our students,”
juniors and seniors looking to expand their sheetrock, roofing, finishing/trim, and paint- ects, such as the camper cabins and sheds, the Jeff Vizenor, Jordan High School Principal.
educational experience and develop in the ing. Students also earn the 10-hour OSHA students utilize a paved area located directly “Any time school life can connect to the
professional world working side-by-side with certification as well as potential college credit adjacent to the workshop space. students’ personal passions and future plans an
experienced professionals in authentic learn- through articulation agreements with partners Any projects that offer students work entire new learning experience unfolds. The
in various trades through the entire building authentic experiences gained through courses
process are ideal. In these types of projects, like Building Trades are a central and fun-
students are able to connect with different damental piece of student growth. Allowing
pieces of project management, and it’s great students to flourish and develop in a class-
to see them engage in differing aspects of the room that mirrors their own personal interests
building process that they really enjoy. is exactly where education needs to continue
“A lot of students are able to apply what growing,” Erin Hjelmeland, Director of Teach-
they have done elsewhere, but it may make ing and Learning for Jordan Public Schools.
more sense here. They can apply what they’ve
learned in Math classes, or other courses and
get a taste of the trades,” Steve McClellan,
Building Trades Teacher. www.jordan.k12.mn.us
“We are very proud of our Building and
Trades course. It gives students the opportu-