PCEC News
WGVU and GVSU College of Education and Community Innovation host public media conference attendees
September 28, 2023
From September 10th to the 14th, WGVU and the GVSU College of Education and Community Innovation jointly hosted the National Education Telecommunications Association (NETA) public media conference. The NETA Conference is an annual gathering that provides public media professionals with meaningful and relevant connections to the people and ideas that are at the heart of their mission to educate, engage, and entertain. This event draws attendees from various corners of the country, encompassing a broad spectrum of public media disciplines and national organizations.
This year's conference theme centered on the exploration of the roles diverse communities and university-based entities can play in offering innovative, experiential learning opportunities that facilitate students' connections to their local communities and the broader world. Universities and public media were positioned as the catalysts of this endeavor.
In line with the theme, the Shape Corp. Innovation and Design Center afforded the NETA conference attendees a unique field trip experience. The field trip engaged participants in the design and construction of an aircraft capable of delivering a small cargo load through a vertical wind tunnel, utilizing basic office supplies as materials. Remarkably, nearly every design proved successful, with minor adjustments and input from fellow participants enhancing their performance. This aircraft-building activity not only provided an amusing and enjoyable design challenge but also sparked discussions on weight distribution, balance, structural integrity, fragility, and resource constraints.