WoodLINKS USA www.woodlinks.com “ Develop the Best - Hire the Best”

WoodLINKS USA Presentation: ITEC Conference ‘04

Presenter: Mark Smith-Shiloh High School-Industrial Technology/WoodLINKS USA InstructorLake Land College Instructor

Location: Peoria, ILDate: November 5 - 6, 2004

WoodLINKS is a unique

human resources development program designed to improve the

competitiveness of the wood industry

What is the problem?

• Our industry is no longer competitive

• Lack of Skilled Workers

• Schools not educating enough for skills

• Lack of meaningful dialogue between education and industry

What does woodworking mean?

• “ If you ask the average person what the term woodworking means to them, the answer will commonly involve a home hobby shop or a dusty workshop where a grizzly “master” crafts fine furniture. The general public does not perceive woodworking as an industry. Jerry Finch, Fox Valley

Technical College, Oshkosh Wisconsin

Education Issues

• Lack of enrollment in high school, college and university programs….poor student recruitment

• Teacher’s lack of industry knowledge

• State of Shop Classes – closing fast?

WoodLINKS – The Start

• WoodLINKS USA funding- AWFS, AWI, IWF, Merritt Woodwork, NASFM, WCMA, WMIA, WMMA,,,, regional industry, government partners

• Based in Holland, MI

• Start-up - 2001- 4 schools in the USA

Topic Areas

• Base skills - safety, communications, teamwork, work ethic issues

• Basic wood structure

• Drying

• Manufacturing

• Computer technologies

Curriculum overview

• Focus area - Secondary Wood Industry

• From Tree structure to Advanced Wood Manufacturing: Solid wood, veneer and panel boards

• Industry support committee and teacher work out curriculum based on industry profile in the area

Curriculum

• Introductory 120 hours

• Advanced 120 hours

• Projects, classroom, visits to supporting manufacturers and industry partners, guest lecturers

Certification Process

• National written exam - multiple choice (worth 40% of the total mark)

• Teacher evaluation (worth 60% of the total mark)

• Practical Skills check list (by teacher and industry)

Certification

• Student requires a 70% average to achieve pass

• Complete certification requires introductory and advanced course completion and pass

We Manage WoodLINKS By:

• Creating effective industry partnerships

• Developing an industry curriculum based on modern industry needs

• Classroom activities that challenge and reward students

• Certify students to industry standards

We Manage WoodLINKS By:

• Developing teacher resources

• Organizing teacher–in–services- training the teachers

• Creating TeacherLINK

• Developing new curriculum

• Developing Masters Program

• Summer Camp

We Manage WoodLINKS By:

• IWF Business Plan Competition

• Coordinate development of national skill Standards

• Opening doors to industry

• Promotion in trade journals

• Assisting in student recruitment

• Articulation with colleges and universities

Shiloh High School Industrial Technology Program-Past

Shiloh High School IND. TECH./WoodLINKS Program-Present

Shiloh High School’s Current Student Projects

Shiloh High School’s Current Student Projects

Shiloh High School’s Current Student Projects

Shiloh High School’s Current Student Projects

How did we get here?

• Started by making the Program valuable to the school in 1994-1995 school year.

• Made yearly reports to the School Board• 1998-1999 school year Summer Program starts. • 1998-1999 build kitchen cabinets for Family and

Consumer Science program.• 1999-2000 purchase our Thermwood CNC Router.• 1999-2000 establish Production class-first customer

cabinet job.

How did we get here?

• 1999-2000 first donation to program by Simonton Windows-$3,500.00 for MasterCAM seats.

• 1999-2000 attend Industrial Strength Woodworking Show. • 1999-2000 meet the WoodLINKS Organization.

www.woodlinks.com • 2000-2001 attend WoodLINKS meetings during the IWF

in Atlanta, GA.• 2001-2002 Shiloh High School becomes WoodLINKS

Pilot Site.• 2002-2003 First WoodLINKS Certifications.

Current Classroom and Shop Equipment

• Wood Manufacturing equipment; Table Saw, Drill Press, Band Saw, Miter Saw, Shaper, Radial Arm Saw, Surfacing Sander, Jointer, Dust Collector, Edge Bander.

• Hand Tools; Electric Sanders, Air Sanders, Routers, Pocket Hole Machine, Clamps, Oscillating Spindle Sander

• Digital Tools; Table Saw, Miter Saw, Pro-Panel Digital Tool, Small Digital Measuring Tool.

• Computer Lab; AutoCAD, MasterCAM, ArtCAM, Esprit 2000, AutoCAD Lt., Studio Viz, eCabinets, Mechanical Desktop, MasterCAM Art.

• CNC equipment; Thermwood CNC Router and Nottmeyer Point-to-Point CNC Machining Center.

The First Big Question-How did we pay for all of this?

• Making repairs for the school district motivated school board to be generous. $10,000.00 worth of repairs

• Summer Program provided some of the tools we needed. Pocket Hole Machine and basic tooling

• Family Consumer Science Cabinet Job provided tools. Shaper

• Production Cabinet Jobs raised money for program. $25,000.00 worth

• Donations by Industry Supporters. $80,000.00 to date• Donations by end of year estimated in the $135,000.00

The Second Big Question-How arewe getting Industry to donate?

• We have formed an Advisory Council that local Industry leaders participate in.

• We are part of the WoodLINKS USA organization.• We use email to send pictures and updates to Industry. • We take students to the IWF and the AWFS shows to

develop Industry contacts and donations.• We publicize our student work to national magazines and

local newspapers. We were published 9 times last year.• We have set up a Shiloh High School Industrial

Technology Program web site for people to visit.

Present opportunities for Shiloh High School IND. TECH. Students

• Summer Program paid work experience.• WoodLINKS USA Certification.• Dual Credit for Drafting/CAD. • Job Placement right out of High School.• Internships with Industry supporters for graduates.• Participation in School-Based-Enterprise-Production

Class.• CAD work for local businesses while in CAD class.• Woodworking Summer Camp at NCSU.• Local and National Industry calling for workers.• Participation in IWF and AWFS Industry Fairs.• Contract CNC work for local and National Industry.

Present opportunities for Shiloh High School IND. TECH. Students

• IWF Business Plan Competition.• AWFS Student Design Competition.• Industry funded educational trips-California, North

Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin.• Student’s work published in magazines and books.• Preferential treatment of WoodLINKS Certified graduates

by Industry and Post Secondary Education.• Industry Supporters come into classroom via Web Cam to

speak with students and answer questions.

Mark Smith-Shiloh High School Industrial Technology/WoodLINKS

• Email-marks@shiloh.k12.il.us

• Phone-217.887.2364 ext.414

• Web-www.shiloh.k12.il.us