Iowa City West High School students explore engineering

IOWA CITY – Scott Kahler chose to major in engineering without knowing a lot about it.

“When I went to college, I had no idea what an engineer did,” Kahler said. “I just said ‘Yeah, this is kind of cool.'”

Luckily, he liked his major, eventually getting a master's degree in aerospace. He worked as an engineer at Rockwell Collins before making his way to West High School.

Kahler teaches physics at West High School. He also is the school's aerospace engineering instructor.

Both Kahler, and aerospace engineering, are new to West this year. The course is the fifth class in West's Project Lead the Way curriculum.

“We put some feelers out there and this seemed to be the one kids were the most interested in taking,” said Dominic Audia, who teaches biology and principles of engineering. “The kids seem really excited about the opportunity to apply what they've learned to projects that are hands-on and collaborative.”

Project Lead the Way is a sequential STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program that introduces students to engineering courses, giving them a taste of the field prior to college. The classes also have potential to earn college credit at four and two-year higher education institutions.

West's Project Lead the Way program began in 2007 with two classes. Now students can choose from principles of engineering, civil engineering and architecture, introduction to engineering design, aerospace engineering and bio-technical engineering.

Senior Megan Donze is enrolled in aerospace, and civil engineering and architecture. She previously took introduction to engineering design.

“I'm interested in engineering, so this just helps me see what's out there,” Donze, 17, said. “I feel lucky that I go to a school where I have the opportunity to take this class.”

That's what it comes down to: opportunity. Kahler's aerospace engineering curriculum was designed by NASA, and the students in his class will learn about the world of aeronautics, flight and engineering. Kahler attended a two-week training session in Kansas to learn the major projects his students will complete this year. He is enthusiastic by the hands-on experience his students will have, but mostly he's excited to give them the knowledge he didn't have when he was in high school.

“I think the greatest thing about Project Lead the Way is it helps them figure out if this is something they want to do,” Kahler said.

That's why senior Kris Knight signed up for the class.

“I figured I better take it before I graduate because now it's free,” Knight, 17, said. “There's a definite advantage to that, being able to try things out.”

Sophomore Wadood Daoud signed up for aerospace after taking principles of engineering as a freshman. He plans to work his way through all of the school's engineering classes.

“I have two more years to explore before I make up my mind,” Daoud, 14, said. “West High gives us a taste of everything.”

Some of the district's middle school students also can make that claim. Both South East and Northwest junior high schools are implementing Project Lead the Way's curriculum this year.