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."

Novotny shared exercises and information from the "What's Up in Factories?" curriculum program, which includes a four-lesson teachers' resource guide with student worksheets and activity suggestions, and a step-by-step plan for organizing factory tours. A key part of the curriculum is a lively, instructional, 30-minute video, narrated by popular teen actors, showing the human dimension of manufacturing along with footage of state-of-the-art manufacturing and design facilities. Novotny also offered humorous examples, his own teaching experiences and group exercises to drive his points home.

Teachers participated in two hands-on exercises. In one, they disassembled a ball point pen to determine exactly how many parts make up this simple, common object. In the other, they worked with nuts and bolts to determine how they could effectively produce something while making important decisions about the efficiency and team approach to producing. Novotny then suggested they consider new methods that would increase efficiency, speed or their own comfort.

One team discussed process improvement and decided that they needed a new location. Rather than sit in chairs, they stood around a table. They also reassigned jobs so that people handled tasks with which they were more comfortable.

Another group of Columbus teachers found that evaluating the process too carefully slowed them down the second time around. Daryl Bricky, business teacher at Liberty High School, said, "We realized that it's valuable to evaluate the need for change, but that it doesn't always lead to improvement. School administrators and business leaders need to be sensitive to the changes recommended by people who are actually doing the job."

Educators from all disciplines participated and came away with insight and information important to their students and their teaching approach. A math teacher thought the assembly exercise would challenge students to find the fastest, most efficient ways to work, while a social studies teacher commented on the importance of the historical developments over time - introduced in the video - that have impacted the job market.

David Benyi, teacher of 8th grade American History and Civics at Eastmoor High School in Columbus, said he will introduce the video in class and seek ways to demonstrate to students the value of working together and cooperatively participating in a project. Burton Feldman, who worked as an electrician for 12 years and is now a student career options specialist for Eastmoor High and Middle schools, as well as for Johnson Park Middle School in Columbus, said that he and his colleagues will introduce the "What's Up in Factories?" curriculum during classroom presentations to students when they discuss career options.

Judy Gaccetta of San Diego, who teaches 7th and 8th grade Valley Junior High School students with learning and emotional difficulties, said, "This program provides my students with a great opportunity to learn to work together, work cooperatively and brainstorm solutions."

Teachers who toured Buck Knives learned that much of the operation is computerized while educators who toured the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company came away with an idea of the skills required to work in the shipyard and the many different jobs, including materials handler, shipfitter, welder, burner and trolley operator, that must be filled with qualified people to make the process work.

Virginia Madigan, a science teacher at Montgomery Middle School in El Cajon, who toured NASSCO, said, "It was valuable to learn from people within industry about what they're looking for in a job candidate, including a good work ethic, reading ability and proficiency in following directions."

In Columbus, teachers toured Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. for a look at what it takes to build a car. Automated machinery, computerization and teamwork were evident throughout the plant. Honda representatives spoke about the Company's efforts to encourage employees to suggest quality, safety and general recommendations.

Honda senior managers Steve Bishop and Al Seitter offered teachers some important information to share with students in readying them for the job market, "At Honda, we're looking for three things: commitment, communication and attendance."