Geauga Campus Faculty Share Architectural Expertise with Newbury High School Students
This past month, Sean Thompson and Judd Kline, adjunct faculty at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State's Geauga Campus, were involved with Newbury High School students as they participated in a project-based learning opportunity, designing affordable earthquake resistant structures for a third world country.
Newbury High School physics instructor, Steve Ingrassia reached out to the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Geauga faculty expertise to help the high school students understand how to think about the various factors that make a structure withstand earthquake forces including flexibility, reinforcements, materials, foundation and even certain types of soils; all factors that architects need to take into consideration.
Judson Kline has been involved in developing and producing architectural education programs for K-12 students since 1995. His extensive background includes 37 years at an architectural firm, Advisory Board Chair for John Hay High School of Architecture and Design in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and numerous committees and community groups.
"I believe in the power of architecture to affect lives. I think that STEM education must have art and architecture to make STEAM. Without steam, there is no energy." Judson explained. "While most students will not become architects, they will become consumers of the built environment. I believe they need to understand how it got that way and how they can challenge and affect it. So when I was asked to assist at Newbury HS, I had to answer the call."
Sean Thompson has nearly 25 years of work with an architectural firm in the region. Throughout his entire career, he has focused on education projects from K-12 through higher education, with a more specific focus on Science and Technology projects over the last 15 years. Sean also serves on the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University Geauga Dean’s Advisory Board and is an involved community member.
These are the unique advantages at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University's Geauga Campus and Regional Academic Center. Faculty who work in their field can easily translate textbook information into real life experiences. This is the purposeful learning that embodies education and transforms communities.