High tech classroom inspires Davenport West students - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

High tech classroom inspires Davenport West students

By: Jillian Wilson

jwilson@cbs4qc.com

Davenport West high school is showing off its new state of the art technology based classroom.

Students in the ‘Project Lead the Way' program say it's inspiring to work in a classroom that's so high tech and hands on.

"It just makes communication, team work, and completing a project faster and simpler," says Tuyen Nguyen, sophomore, Davenport West student.

The new innovation zone classroom is the only one of its kind in Iowa.

In 2006, West high school added the project lead the way program to its curriculum.

"When students graduate they know they have skills that are marketable that employers, universities are looking for, and that's happening here," says Vince Bertram, President/CEO, Project Lead the Way.

Since adding the nation's leading stem education program, students have definitely raised the bar.

"Their creativity never seizes to amaze me. They have the best ideas," says Jason Franzenburg, Engineering Teacher.

This 21st century classroom was even designed by West students with a local architect.

"It definitely empowers the student that they actually have the ability to do it on their own instead of having a teacher assign something for them," says Eli Shellabarger, Senior, Davenport West.

Their engineering teacher says seeing his students grow over the year is rewarding.

He will definitely keep tabs on their progress after high school and beyond.

"It takes a special team to build something like this. I'm really proud of the students," says Jason Franzenburg, Engineering Teacher.

It's not just for students at West. Right now, students from North, Central, and home schooled students are taking advantage of the program.