Breaking new ground in educational initiatives, Starling PreK-8 is reaching into the future by introducing a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) course for eighth-grade students—a first for the school. This bold move aims to align student skills with the workforce needs of central Ohio, where tech giants like Intel and Anduril Industries are significantly upscaling their operations. Eighth-grader Marshawnn Bolding, with his sights set on a career in tech and engineering, told Columbus City Schools, "I want to get a job in technology and engineering, so this class will teach me the basics."
This cutting-edge CAD course doesn't just pop abruptly into the curriculum. Rather, it is part of a gradually scaffolded structure that also includes an introductory CTE course for sixth graders and robotics and manufacturing courses for seventh graders. Paul Mouck, the Career-Technical Education instructor spearheading the initiative, believes the CAD course will directly apply to jobs such as those at Intel, and he told Columbus City Schools that "These students are preparing now for the jobs that are to come."
Through the use of Onshape, an industry-standard CAD software, students have dived into the practical aspects of design by creating custom eyeglass frames. The project’s goal is to stimulate both the artistic and engineering aspects of the students’ abilities. Expressing his satisfaction with the intersect of disciplines, Mouck said, "It’s bringing out both the artistic and the engineering part of the students’ skill sets."
The long-term future of the CAD course comes with promising prospects, including the potential for high school credit or industry certification. But for Mouck, the CAD class's current significance lies in the doors it opens for young minds. He shared with Columbus City Schools that "When they go off to high school, just knowing there’s a field where they can design things using a computer, they can refine those skills and go off to Ohio State, a community college or even right into a job and really be an asset."
