Student in Great Bend High School technology teacher Jake Hofflinger’s mass production classes are getting a chance to gain some real-world insight.
Barton County Administrator Richard Boeckman spoke to Wednesday morning. The topic was the Cheyenne Bottoms Overlook Improvement Project for which the county has received several grants. The project will be a 10-foot-tall viewing tower just off K-4 east of Hoisington.  
“This is a great combination of skills these students have been developing,” Hofflinger said. “It ties into local community and the students can see the real world application of what they are learning.
“The class had completed a unit on architectural design and is now studying environmental technology. Current topics include recycling, industrial pollution, acid rain, life cycle, water cycle, CO2 cycle, Ph levels of water and soil, and the importance of environmental awareness.
The two classes (about 30 kids in all) were divided into groups of two to form small architectural firms, the teacher said. Each interviewed Boeckman as if he were a client and they were competing for a job.
The firms conducted a client interview followed by the creation of thumbnail sketches, scale plans and elevation drawing developments, and the construction of a 1/4 scale model. The conclusion of the project will be when the competing firms pitch their ideas and try to win the bid or contract.
The students got the idea. Here is a sampling of the questions posed by the students, all sophomores and juniors.
“Are you looking for a design that stands out from the environment or something organic looking that blends in maybe using natural building materials?” Joshua Schridde asked.
“What ADA regulations must we comply with?” Marcos Martinez asked .
“I’m picturing a long ramp with native grasses and stone along the path. Is that what you are looking for?”  Isaiah L Davis asked.
“What’s the budget for this project?” Jared P Divis  asked.
 “Technology courses are trying to prepare our students to be successful in the real world,” he said. “I jumped at Mr. Boeckmans offer to come talk to my classes. The opportunity to have a professional community member present the students with an actual project being developed as we speak is hardly matched by curriculum and text books. My students will be able to see exactly how their skills are applied to real problems.”