ERIC Number: EJ793863
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-May
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1527-1803
EISSN: N/A
Revving up Students' Skills with Motor sports
Thomas, Ingrid
Techniques: Connecting Education and Careers (J3), v83 n5 p28-31 May 2008
Drag racing is just one of the exciting sporting activities that students enrolled in the Parkland College's Engineering Science and Technologies program get an opportunity in which to participate. The college, located in Champaign, Illinois, has provided affordable career-tech and academic education to area residents since 1966. This article describes how at Parkland, not only are students getting hands-on experience, they will graduate from Parkland with skills that are applicable to real-life situations, such as teamwork, leadership and critical thinking. Parkland Motorsports, a student-run organization, gives automotive technology students the opportunity to experience motorsports beyond the classroom. They work on cars, plan an annual car show, attend the Chicago auto show, and take automotive-related business trips. The organization owns three racecars, which include a UMP Sportsman dirt car, a 1980 Chevy Malibu drag car, and a 1990 Honda Civic, all driven by students competitively. Students who participate in Parkland Motorsports are enrolled in the associate in applied science (AAS) degree program, which prepares them for entry-level technical positions at auto dealerships and independent service centers. The program is certified by The National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), and combines NATEF-certified training with hands-on training. Using the latest in automotive technology and business instruction, students gain the technical and managerial skills needed to succeed in automotive-related fields.
Descriptors: Associate Degrees, Auto Mechanics, Technology Education, Case Method (Teaching Technique), Problem Based Learning, Science Process Skills, Mechanical Skills, Mechanics (Process), Effective Schools Research, College Outcomes Assessment, Program Descriptions, School Business Relationship
Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). 1410 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 800-826-9972; Tel: 703-683-3111; Fax: 703-683-7424; Web site: http://www.acteonline.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A