At the November 14, 2023 Colonial Heights Public Schools Board Meeting, the school board voted to approve a three-year grant for a GOTEC lab to be installed at Colonial Heights Middle School. GOTEC, Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Courses, is a talent pathway initiative that introduces middle school students to strategic sectors, like precision machining, welding, IT coding and networking, automation and robotics, and others. GOTEC recognizes that just under one million jobs in these fields are predicted to be available by 2026, and GOTEC’s mission is to inspire Virginia’s students towards this opportunity. GOTEC’s leading funding partner is the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development who oversees the general GO Virginia program. Approximately $4.9 million dollars has been awarded to GOTEC through GO Virginia, and GOTEC then awards funding to school divisions like CHPS for students to have their very own GOTEC labs.
On the 14th, students at CHMS and school board members were able to experience a mobile version of the GOTEC lab.
So what is a GOTEC Lab?
The GOTEC lab will be housed at CHMS and will contain various technology and training equipment to include robotics and automation resources, IT coding tools, milling machines, metrology tools, a laser cutter, a 3D printer, a digital multimeter, a welding simulator, and more. Each piece of equipment provides students experience and peaked interest in five core career areas: advanced materials; IT and cybersecurity; precision machining; robotics, automation, and mechatronics; and welding. In addition, they provide career rotations for students who aren’t quite sure which field interests them just yet. GOTEC also provides training, supplies, equipment and other resources to school staff who will be utilizing the lab. This includes their GOTEC Training Lab where school staff can learn to utilize the various tools themselves.
Check out the video below for a tour of a GOTEC lab.
Colonial Heights Public Schools is excited to provide CHMS students with hands-on learning opportunities that will hopefully inspire the next generation of technology and engineering professionals of Virginia. If you have questions about this program, please email Dr. Joe Douglas, Science Instructional Specialist or CHMS Principal Amanda Pelter.