Automotive Engineering & Technology - a racing success at Carine SHS
The new Automotive Engineering and Technology course is well and truly on track at Carine Senior High School.
In fact, a drag car built and maintained by students at the school regularly competes on the racetrack at Quit Motorplex in Kwinana.
Teacher Laurie Cook trialled different aspects of the new Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) course throughout 2006 in readiness to undertake action research for the course in 2007.
The racing car serviced and tuned by Carine SHS students.
The new course aims to provide a foundation for life-long learning about automotive vehicles. It helps prepare students for career opportunities in roles including metal fabrication, welding, panel beating, engine building, spray painting, automotive mechanical and automotive electrical. It may also provide a sound practical basis for a career in mechanical engineering at a tertiary level.
As well as developing specialised hands-on skills and a strong theoretical knowledge of engines, students learn about occupational health and safety practices and procedures, and develop communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Mr Cook said his Year 11 and 12 students had thoroughly enjoyed the tasks associated with the new course.
"Tasks have included building engines and serving as the pit crew during drag races," he said.
"The drag car is owned by a private company and serviced and tuned by students at the school. It is a highly competitive car that can reach speeds of up to 220 km/h.
"Work on the car is so popular that Year 11 students who had finished school for the year returned to school to work on it."
Mr Cook said plans for next year include using Pro Racing Dyno-Sim software to enable students to select an hypothetical engine and vehicle and modify it to suit a particular track.
This kind of theory that relates to more 'real life' applications is highly motivating for students, he said.
"Next year, Year 12 students will build a battery and solar powered car," he said.
"Another initiative on the cards for next year is to try and start Junior Dragster racing."
The school's automotive program currently has one sponsor and is liaising with other private companies to identify additional sponsorship opportunities.
Curriculum Council curriculum officer Don Vinciullo commended the high standard of Carine SHS's automotive course and professional workshop, which he likened to an industry workplace.
"Students at the school are getting valuable expertise at the same time as they learn important occupational health and safety rules and regulations and adhere to the conventions of the drag racing industry," Mr Vinciullo said.
"There's a good work ethic at the school, too. For example, I could see the course igniting the interest of university-bound students to go on and study mechanical engineering or something similar.
"There's no doubt students are also having a lot of fun while they are learning.
"This sort of high-level work increases students' self-esteem and they will never forget it."
Mr Vinciullo said he was confident the new Automotive Engineering and Technology course can be successfully delivered in the context of Carine's existing automotive work.
. The Automotive Engineering and Technology course will be implemented in schools in Year 11 in 2008.
