When “The Victors” peals from the 55-bell carillon high inside the University of Michigan’s Burton Tower, many students below can hum the famous fight song as they stroll. One group, though, also understands the engineering and skilled labor behind the resonant tones, having sculpted and poured metal to make carillon bells that achieve a particular sound in a course called Shaping the Sound of Bronze.

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Filed under: Special Features | Comments Off on Heavy Metal Bell Engineers

Tags: Alice Daniel, Art, ASEE Prism magazine, bells, bronze, carillon, Engineering Design, engineering school, forge, makerspace, metallurgy, Shaping the sound of Bronze, STEAM, University of Michigan

Could makerspaces transform career, technical, and vocational education? The U.S. Department of Education believes so and has launched a CTE Makeover Challenge to kick-start the process. Up to 10 schools could win $20,000 in cash and other awards to turn their makerspace designs into reality. Submissions due April 1, 2016.

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Filed under: Competitions and Contests, K-12 Outreach Programs, Special Features | Comments Off on CTE Makover Challenge

Tags: Contest, CTE, Education Policy, Grades 9-12, hands-on learning, makerspace, making, STEM education, Vocational Education, White House