April 30, 2024
Prince Parent Designs One-of-a-Kind Learning Experience for Middle School Life Skills Class
Written by: Amy Frierson
When Prince Avenue Christian School launched a middle school life skills elective this year, Prince parent and entrepreneur Jake Raby of Raby Engine Development saw an opportunity to contribute his time and expertise to create a unique learning experience for Prince middle school students.
Raby designed, built, and implemented the novel concept of the Technical Learning Center. Each learning center is mobile and can transform any academic classroom into shop class in a matter of minutes. The station includes an engine, worktable, drawers, safety equipment, and tools that enable a small group of students at each station, with step-by-step instruction, to disassemble and reassemble an engine.
Raby has a particular passion for hands-on learning and technical education. As a student who struggled in the traditional classroom, it was in shop classes such as welding, machining, modeling, and engine building that Raby flourished and applied his creative talents.
“I had two dedicated teachers that saw my ability and convinced my school to provide hands-on learning opportunities for me. The program I have built for Prince is a direct reflection of those things I learned in middle and high school.”
Raby says that this unit provides students the opportunity to discover a talent or passion for technical skills. “At the very least, students will understand how the machines around them operate and what happens when their parents turn the key in the ignition of their cars.”
Middle school teacher Morgan Garretson explains that students also gained a sense of empowerment and accomplishment. “This unit provided students with practical skills while also helping them to see that they can accomplish great things through perseverance and teamwork. It was a truly exciting experience.”
In addition to designing and building each workstation, Raby was a guest instructor for each class period during the unit. Over the course of four weeks, students followed his instructions learning the basics of engine building, and on the last day, students started their engines.
Seventh grader Farris Jones says that the engine building unit was an exciting hands-on project. “We got to use lots of different tools and equipment. Mr. Raby was a great teacher throughout the entire unit. “
Raby hopes that his time in the classroom sparked an interest in students who might flourish with hands-on learning. “I have put this program together in the hopes that the student who doesn’t quite fit the mold will be exposed to these tools, parts, and methods of operation and that this might make him or her the next engineer or inventor.”