What do Pythagoras’s theorem and a cylindrical watering can have in common? Ask any of the 36 year nine students from Waroona and Harvey high schools currently involved in Alcoa’s Work@9 program and they should be able to tell you.
Work@9 is an innovative program aimed at providing young men and women with an insight to career opportunities and study paths while demonstrating how classroom lessons apply to the real world.
Wagerup refinery manager Bill Knight said Work@9 responded to the growing pressure on young people to make decisions about career paths in the early stages of their secondary education.
“The career choices young people face are numerous and making decisions about study options can be daunting.
“Work@9 gives the students an early insight to a variety of careers which we hope will help them make important decisions in the future.
“It also helps to link classroom theory with the real world by applying maths, science and English basics to simple workplace tasks.”
Work@9 was set-up in 2002 to address diversity issues and in the first year was offered to12 young women. Based on its success, the program is now extended to include young men also.
Waroona District High School student Karl Gray said presentations from a range of professionals including engineers, planners and draftpeople had helped focus his future study path while the practical activities had improved his hand skills.
“The presentations have made me think more carefully about my grades and the pathways to different careers,” Karl said.
“It has also helped me to confirm my decision to pursue a career in mechanics.”
And if you’re still wondering about the Pythagoras-watering can relationship, the theorem was used by the students to accurately calculate the height and pitch of the watering can lid.
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