OCONTO. Oconto High School students will have the opportunity to explore new career opportunities by trying their hand at welding.
Okonto Unified School District purchased a MobileArc augmented reality welding system and a Prusa i3 3D printer as part of a $20,000 technology upgrade under the Leap for Learning program, a technology upgrade offered in part by Green Bay Packers and UScellular. From an NFL grant. Foundation.
Superintendent Emily Miller said the virtual welder will give students the opportunity to try welding without the inherent dangers of burns, eye injury and electric shock.
“Our goal is to provide students with a variety of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) opportunities to learn welding and metalworking at the high school level,” she said.
The high school offers college credit welding courses at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College.
With the Welding Simulator, students can practice various welding processes on a realistic simulator that creates a 3D representation of a metal workpiece. Realistic sounds of the arc are accompanied by visual effects that help to create the effect of presence. Students are supervised, assessed and given feedback on their welding skills. Initially, the welding system will be used by students in grades 5-8, although this system can easily be transferred to secondary schools.
“Students will learn the basics of welding, choose from different types of welds, and practice different welding techniques in a safe environment,” Miller said.
The Virtual Welding Program is one example of how collaboration between school districts and local businesses can help strengthen communities. Chad Henzel, NWTC Welding Instructor and Operations Manager, Yakfab Metals Inc. in Okonto, said the metalworking industry needs more welders and programs like these introduce young people to this lucrative and versatile career.
“It’s nice to be introduced to this in middle school so they can take welding classes in high school if that’s their interest,” Henzel said. “Welding can be an interesting job if the person has mechanical ability and enjoys working with their hands.”
Yakfab is a CNC machining, welding and custom fabrication shop serving a variety of industries including marine, firefighting, paper, food and chemical.
“Types of work (welding) can be complex. You don’t just sit in the barn, welding for 10 hours and go home,” he said. A career in welding pays well and offers many career opportunities.
Nercon’s production manager, Jim Ackes, says there are many different career opportunities for welders in areas such as manufacturing, metalworking, and metalworking. Welding is an essential skill for Nercon employees who design and manufacture delivery systems and equipment for all types of consumer products.
Eckes says that one of the benefits of welding is the ability to create something with your hands and your skills.
“Even in its simplest form, you create something,” Akers said. “You see the end product and how it fits into the other components.”
Implementing welding in high schools will open doors for students to careers they may not have thought of, Eckes says, and save them time and money in graduating or jobs they are not qualified for. In addition, even before entering secondary school, students can learn to solder in a safe environment, free from heat and danger.
“The sooner you get them interested, the better for you,” says Akers. “They can move forward and do better.”
According to Eckes, the high school welding experience also helps dispel the stereotype that manufacturing is a dirty run in the dark, when in reality it is a difficult, challenging and rewarding career.
The welding system will be installed in the high school’s STEAM lab in the 2022-23 school year. Virtual Welder provides students with a realistic interactive welding experience as well as a fun opportunity to practice what they have learned.