What is Exploring Technology?

Exploring Technology is an elective class offered at Zebulon Middle School to seventh and eighth graders. It gives students the opportunity to work with a variety of technologies as well as learning problem solving techniques. In our classroom there is a computer available for every student and this allows each student the opportunity to learn more about the growing uses of this machine that has become so vital to our existence. We also have several other machines in our lab such as three CNC milling machines, and in our woods lab we have nine scroll saws three band saws, and other tools and equipment available for the student projects. This allows our classes to learn about technology through working on several projects such as bridge building.

Why is Exploring Technology Important?

The world that our children are growing up in is surrounded by technology. Computers are used for everything from cars to grocery stores. It is important that our children get hands on experience using tools that will make them successful in life. The Exploring Technology program at Zebulon Middle school allows students to see and explore what technologies exist. It is an overview of the four technologies which are transportation, communication, manufacturing and construction. On a high school level students will be able to choose between each individual technology. Exploring technology is in the middle school to prepare them for their choices in the future.

At Zebulon GT Magnet we feel that Exploring Technology is an integral part of our curriculum. We are located in the Vocational Education department, but fulfill a variety of needs. Exploring Technology provides us with well rounded students that are needed in our world today.

Our milling machine allows students to have hands on experience with equipment that they will use in industry. It combines computers and mechanical machinery to show how they interact. This is a desktop type CNC machine that mimics the principles of industrial milling machines.

Meet the Teacher

Mr. Bobby Holliman has been with Zebulon GT Magnet Middle School for over five years. He has been in the teaching profession for close to 20 years. He has made many improvements and continual updates in the Exploring Technology classroom.