ARTS STEM Craftsmanship- Guitar Making as a Model for Pedagogical Transformation and Academic Immediacy
Impact high school students with relevent core subject use.
The intent of this project is to combine the use of Science, Technology, Engineering,and Math into the art of building acoustic guitars. The course combines an undestanding of the properties of "Tone Woods", the science of sound, geometry and measurment, as well as the historic and cultural impact of acoustic guitars. Student motivation is uncommonly high in this course. Students show up for class ready to meet every challenge of the next step. I believe this motivation is what parents and students are lookoing for in their high school education. This course exposes the student to unique problem solving opportunities. The learning curve and masterey of skills moves at a very fast pace
About You
About You
First Name
Ken
Last Name
Ferry
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Lemont High School
Organization Website
Organization Phone
630-257-5838
Organization Address
800 Porter St. Lemont IL 60439
Organization Country
United States
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States
Is your organization a
Government
How long has your organization been operating?
1‐5 years
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Innovation
Entry Form title
ARTS STEM Craftsmanship- Guitar Making as a Model for Pedagogical Transformation and Academic Immediacy
What change do you want to bring to the world?
Impact high school students with relevent core subject use.
The intent of this project is to combine the use of Science, Technology, Engineering,and Math into the art of building acoustic guitars. The course combines an undestanding of the properties of "Tone Woods", the science of sound, geometry and measurment, as well as the historic and cultural impact of acoustic guitars. Student motivation is uncommonly high in this course. Students show up for class ready to meet every challenge of the next step. I believe this motivation is what parents and students are lookoing for in their high school education. This course exposes the student to unique problem solving opportunities. The learning curve and masterey of skills moves at a very fast pace
What are the primary activities of your project?
Student purchase the materials and immediatlly begin working the wood. This involves steam bending the sides of the guitar to proper specifications, Measuring, Cutting, and assembling components in sequence. Once the components are complete the guitar is ready for the final assembly followed by finishing. There are several quality control check points during the process. The focus and attention to detail by each student is easily observed as the natual motivation to successfully complete each step is acomplished.
What is innovative about your initiative? How is it a new contribution to the field?
Traditional High School woodworking has always consisted of functional need, design, and creativity to meet that need. The result are often furniture and cabinetry in varying size and degree of dificulty. Acoustic Guitar Making has impacted our school in attracting students that would not normally enroll in the traditional wood technology courses offered. This has been the magic of the program thus far. The goal is to improve upon this concept to give students that are serious about their core subject an elective class that fills the rigor of both academics and material processing/manufacturing. This course puts the importance of school reform at the forefront of priority. The age of understanding and performing relivant use for STEM classes is upon us. This model provides each student a unique oppotunity to master the cognitive and practical use of STEM courses. Education a a whole is in need of a new approach to making core subjects relevent. Over the years I have observed well intentioned ideas turn into programs only to loose momentum and die.
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1‐5 years
Tell us about the community that you engage? eg. economic conditions, political structures, norms and values, demographic trends, history, and experience with engagement efforts.
The Board of Education and the communiy have embraced this course offering and continue to support it as part of a complete curriculum to meet student needs.
Share the story of the founder and what inspired the founder to start this project
I (Ken Ferry) have always had a love for the acoustic guitar, playing it since I was nine years old. My inpsiration comes from the instument itself. I have always been facinated with the visual beauty and souund quality of a masterfully made guitar. As a Wood Technology instructor of 35 years, I saw the need to impact students with an experience outside of traditional woodworking. I visited the CF Martin Guitar Company in Nazareth Pensylvania. Here I learned the function of guitar building. I submitted a proposal to offer a course in guitar making and it was accepted by the Board of Ed. This fall of 2011 the program begins it's third year in opperation.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
Please describe how your project has been successful and how that success is measured
Simply to see my students pride and astonishment as they play the guitar they made at the end of the course.
How many people have been impacted by your project?
Fewer than 100
How many people could be impacted by your project in the next three years?
101- 1,000
How will your project evolve over the next three years?
The goal is to increase the sections that are offered each year. This year we offer an advanced year-long course for the students that have take the intro course.
Sustainability
What barriers might hinder the success of your project and how do you plan to overcome them?
Keeping student interest at a high level. We are exploring new ways to celebrate the success of the program thus far. The pride that the students have as they play their guitars at the end of the course is priceless.
Tell us about your partnerships
I have partnered with C.F. Martin Guitar Co.in Nazareth Pa. and Stewart -MacDonald,in Athens Oh. whom we purchase our materials and tools as well as receive technical support.
CF Martine has been at the forefront of acoustic guitar making since 1833 and has set many industry stadards in constuction as well as tone quality. They have been instumental in cooperating, sharing their experience and allowing me to receive one on one instruction from their education experts. Their support and technical advise has been proven to be a crucial component to the success of each student completing a guitar.
Stewat MacDonald is our sourse for many of the specialty tools needed to build guitars. Their technical department provide excellent instruction on evrything needed to teach students how to safely use the tools. This includes jigs, fixtures, technical data, and hand tools.
Current annual budget of project, in US dollars
$1,000‐$10,000
Explain your selections
Each student pays a fee for the course of appoximatly $35.00 to cover the cost of consumable materials. In addition each student purchases their guitar making material appoximatly $310.00-$380.00. I order the material from C.F. Martin.
How do you plan to strengthen your project in the next three years?
Our goal is to manufacture guitars and sell them for a profit to help sustain the program. We are currently brainstorming ways to generate the funds to purchase the materials and additional equipment needed.
Partnerships and Accountability
Please tell us more about how your partnership was formed and how it functions. What specific role does each partner play? What unique resources does each partner bring to the initiative?
I have frequent contact with C.F. Martin and Stewart MacDonald as they were the first companies to enourage us to build the program. The technical support from both companies has been outstanding. The students offten refer to their web sites for information and inspiration.
How are you building in accountability for students' successful STEM learning outcomes? Please provide a summary and examples.
The greatest challenge of teaching this course thus far is without question time constraints. In conjunction with the Math and Science departments I am exploring ways to incorporate the STEM component into a cross-curricular coop. At present the majority of the actual class time must be dedicated to the construction and quality compleation of the guitars.
Needs
Marketing/Media.
Please use this space to elaborate on your selection above and/or to add needs that may not be listed.
I could use assistance on selling /promoting/ exposing this program outside the walls of Lemont High School school.
Offers
Collaboration/Networking, Innovation/Ideas.
Please use this space to elaborate on your selection above and/or to add offers that may not be listed.
I am excited as excited as an educator of thirty five year can be about this program. I would love to learn of new ways to share the passion that it has generated. I would answer any questions that this entry generates.
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