Teachers in San Diego and Columbus, Ohio, learned the nuts and bolts of manufacturing when they participated in workshops and factory tours for "What's Up in Factories?", a dynamic curriculum developed by WNET/New York. To introduce educators to the program, WNET worked with local PBS affiliates KPBS and WOSU to coordinate workshops and factory tours, where teachers learned how TV tubes, knives, ships, and cars are made. Sony, Buck Knives, the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (all in San Diego), and Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., (Marysville, Ohio) offered participants an inside look at today's manufacturing techniques and environment.In workshop training sessions Jim Novotny, WNET's teacher trainer for "What's Up in Factories?" introduced the practical, historical and fun side of teaching about manufacturing. He spoke about the need to take technology and hands-on education beyond woodworking and metal shop to help prepare students for the challenges that lie ahead as they pursue careers in the technology age. "Working successfully in today's manufacturing fields - or any field for that matter - requires an ability and willingness to solve problems," said Novotny. "This requires understanding how a process works and a little imagination about how to get it back on track when something goes wrong or redesign it for improvement."
