Richmond Heights Secondary School students in grades 7 through 9 have completed the Electronics Foundation’s Safety to Soldering course, which covers workplace safety, electronics fundamentals and introductory soldering techniques used in manufacturing, according to Cleveland.com. The district is the first in the Cleveland area to adopt the foundation’s soldering curriculum, the outlet reported.
The Electronics Foundation is a nonprofit established by the Global Electronics Association. It supports electronics education through hands-on learning and other resources, according to the foundation. Its soldering kits supply classroom components for circuit-building and soldering activities, the organization says on its kit information page.
The program in a broader workforce context
The foundation has distributed its STEM kits and curriculum materials to about 120 schools, community colleges and universities nationwide, Cleveland.com reported. Workforce pressures are also a concern for the sector: the Global Electronics Association says more than two-thirds of its U.S. members face hiring and retention constraints because of a shortage of skilled workers, according to its workforce development page. Cleveland.com also reported that the association put U.S. electronics manufacturing employment at approximately 5.2 million.
A student demonstration is planned
About 30 students are scheduled to demonstrate their skills at 10 a.m. Friday at the school, using electronics kits provided through the program, according to Cleveland.com. Soldering joins components to circuit boards by applying a melted metal alloy; the resulting connections carry electricity and hold components in place.
The event is also set to include a donation to the Richmond Heights Local School District’s STEM program from Chryspac, a Milwaukee-based contract assembly and manufacturing services company, and the Electronics Foundation, Cleveland.com reported.
