See how Toshiba Grant funding enhances skill development at BVT

UPTON – Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT) has received a $3,390 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation. The school has used the supplemental funds to purchase an oscilloscope training board and ten oscilloscopes for its Engineering ad Robotics program. The equipment is necessary to enhance students' understanding of circuit board functions and teach them how to adjust waveforms to produce desired outcomes.  

Recently, sophomore students in Mr. Timothy Oliveira's digital electronics course used the grant-acquired equipment in a fun and engaging assignment. Using the instructor training board, Mr.  Oliveira demonstrated how students should use an oscilloscope, a diagnostic instrument, to draw a graph of an electrical signal and create a circuit board to illuminate the eyes of a stuffed animal to complete the critter project successfully.

"Learning how to use the equipment properly was important to me," said Charlotte Lewis of Uxbridge, a sophomore in the Engineering & Robotics program at BVT. "I enjoyed creating a circuit board and adjusting waveforms to produce a pulsing light in the eyes of the plush tiger. I'm confident that the skills learned through this project will continue to help me in the future."

"Understanding how to use an oscilloscope is crucial for troubleshooting, designing, and maintaining electronic circuits. Our students need oscilloscope skills to prepare for and pass certification examinations that assist with employment," explained Mr. Oliveira. "With an increasing demand for skilled technicians, preparing our students with in-demand skills to meet employer needs and expectations increases their employability."

"As a grant recipient, we are proud to provide our students and teachers with the tools and equipment they need without impacting our tax-payers," said BVT's Superintendent-Director, Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick. "Increased access to modern industry equipment paired with inquiry-based approaches to our curriculum makes learning here interesting and fun while preparing our students for success in STEM-related careers. It is exciting to see the moment they grasp the subject matter, and their eyes light up!"