David Crockett CTE programs team up for health sciences equipment

When David Crockett High School teacher Kara Clark's new Physical Therapy Technician class needed hands-on equipment, the school's Career and Technical Education programs came together to design and build a learning environment with a real purpose. The new Physical Therapy Technician program in the Health Sciences Department needed equipment that would allow students to move beyond classroom theory and practice the skills they would use in real-life patient care. Specifically, the class needed a safe and functional space where students could learn how patients use assistive devices, practice ambulation and work through everyday activities that can become challenging after an injury, illness or change in mobility. Rather than simply purchasing equipment, Crockett's CTE programs turned the need into an interdisciplinary learning opportunity. The project brought together students and instructors from multiple CTE programs. Construction and electrical teacher John Lewis' first-year students took on the challenge of constructing a functional ramp and set of steps. Through the project, students developed hands-on experience with measuring, construction, assembly, problem-solving and learning how individual components come together to create a safe and useful structure. Students also learned about construction details such as step runners and balusters while creating equipment that would directly support the mission. Aaron Gardner's welding students contributed another essential component by fabricating the parallel bars. Students applied welding and fabrication skills to create smooth, concave-round welds and sturdy hand grips. The bars were designed to be adjustable for different heights, giving the Physical Therapy Technician program a versatile tool for teaching mobility and ambulation skills. The welding portion of the project gave students an opportunity to see how precision, craftsmanship, safety and attention to detail can directly support another classroom and ultimately benefit future patients. For Clark's Physical Therapy Technician students, the finished equipment is more than a ramp, a set of steps and parallel bars. It is a hands-on teaching tool. Students will use the equipment to learn how assistive devices are used, work through mobility challenges and simulate everyday activities of daily living. The equipment creates opportunities for students to practice communication, observation, safety awareness and patient-support skills in a realistic environment. School officials said the project is a strong example of what makes CTE so valuable. Students from different programs did not work in isolation; they contributed different skills to one shared goal. Together, the programs created a project that connects classrooms, careers and real-world problem solving. That collaboration at David Crockett High School gives students a picture of how different careers and industries work together in the real world. Whether students are preparing for healthcare, welding, construction, electrical work or another technical career, the ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team is a valuable workforce skill.