iWINK

Innovations/Welding Integration in Northeast Kentucky

• Ashland Community and Technical College
• Greenup Career and Technical School
• Russell Area Technology Center

iWINK is an exciting Carl Perkins Reserve grant project awarded to the three-member group for academic year 2010-2011.

Our Team Members

• Business and Industry
• Pipefitters Local 248 
• KY Labor Cabinet representatives 
• TENCO Workforce Board 
• Russell and Greenup Area Technology Center faculty and administration 
• ACTC Faculty, Staff, and administration 
• Students and Alumni

Project Aims

• Expand CCTI Welding Career Pathway (include 7th and 8th grades) integrating math and welding. 
• Develop contextually integrated iWINK teams from all educational levels and business/industry. 
• Develop engaging career guidance materials for iWINK for use with students, parents and community.

Approaches

• Multimedia approach to career information
• school visits by Welding faculty with Virtual Sim-Welder
• project created DVD
• Twitter
• iWINK Website
• podcasts
• Professional Development of all partners
• attendance at industry conferences
• attendance at educational conferences
• local PD sessions
• Presentation of project work at meetings and conferences 
• Tracking of students from grade 7, based on results of interest inventories. 
• Contextual math lesson plans for 7th/8th grade

Expected Outcomes 

• Academic and technical educators will possess greater understanding of the connection between foundational academics and technical programs in general and welding in specific. 
• Better curricular alignment to place students on a more directed path beginning in middle school.