Entries by Richard Christianson

President’s Message: It Wasn’t Easy, but They Did it!

I hope everyone and their loved ones are staying safe in this very unusual time of America’s history. Since the shutdown of most schools in mid-March the educating and credentialing of students for their Sawblade certificates and Passport credentials has truly been a challenge. However, during this challenging time, Woodwork Career Alliance EDUcation member teachers […]

Welcome New Members & Sponsors!

The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is pleased to welcome 16 new EDUcation™ member schools, one new MANufacturing™ member, and three new INDustry™ Sponsors. We also welcome back nine sponsors for another year. Thank you for your membership and support! New EDUcation™ Members Burns High School, Lawndale, NC Crest High School, Shelby, NC Greenville […]

The Trials and Tribulations of Teaching Woodworking Online

The novel coronavirus pandemic has left an indelible mark on education institutions across North America by forcing the vast majority of schools to close for the remainder of the academic year. The transition from teaching students in the classroom to online has most especially been fraught with challenges for woodworking instructors belonging to the Woodwork […]

Building a Bridge Between Woodworking Education & Industry

Mark Smith, industrial technology teacher at Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood, IL, is in the news again. MultiBriefs, an online source of industry specific news, recently posted an article about Smith and his program. “Supporting Student Success Through Industry Outreach” delves into Smith’s long-time and continuing efforts to forge relationships with the woodworking industry through […]

Students experience VR woodworking at The MiLL

The WoodEd Table, a virtual reality system for training students and novices how to operate basic woodworking machinery in a safe, dust-free environment, was implemented at the MiLL National Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, earlier this year. The Wood ED Table features four simulation modules: bandsaw, ripsaw, jointer and shaper. Users operate the system […]

SCM organizes student tours of high-tech cabinet plants

SCM North America, along with two of its customers in Southern California – Excel Cabinets and Reeves Enterprises – recently provided students from San Jacinto High School’s Industrial Wood Technologies program the opportunity to witness a machine installation and cabinet manufacturing technology in motion. Over the course of two days, this job shadow experience provided […]