By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
Enid News and Eagle
ENID — Autry Technology Center is changing its curriculum and adjusting courses to be more flexible.
A new development this year is students are not required to attend classes for a half-day. Some courses are offered in a shorter block, said Molly Helm, marketing director for Autry Tech.
“There are some exceptions, but it leaves students free to go to athletics or to work,” she said.
One fast-growing program is mechatronics, which offers classes to high school students and graduates needing industrial training. Mechatronics is a combination of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics, information technology and systems thinking that is used in design of products, automation processes and robotics. Students may receive ad-vanced standing in mechatronics engineering.
Mechatronics is an excellent foundation for students working toward a bachelor’s degree in engineering, Helm said.
The program, a recent development in technology, is a growing program at Autry Tech, but other programs are popular now, as well.
For photography buffs or those wanting to learn the basics, Tawny Dotson is teaching a digital photography class this semester, and Enid Emergency Manage-ment Director Mike Honigs-berg is teaching a storm spotter class.
“Our culinary classes are always popular,” Helm said.
This semester the culinary department is offering classes to learn how to cook 10- to 20-minute meals. The two-hour class has students cooking a number of different meals.
Medical fields are booming, as there is no job shortage in the health care industry, and Autry Tech offers continuing education.
Also offered this year are Saturday courses in maintaining home computers and basic computer upkeep.
An eight-week management course based on Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” begins April 28.
Online courses are available and include accounting, art, history, psychology, literature, basic computer literacy, business administration, personal enrichment, personal finance and wealth building, sales and marketing, starting a business, Web and computer programming and writing and publishing.
For information, contact Autry Technology Center 242-2750.
