Leveraging Our Local Resources
Noel Nolan from Dart Container was a recent presenter to all four sections of fourth grade at Steele Elementary. While captivating an audience of approximately 90 students is no small feat, she was able to accomplish it!
Obviously, the session had been very well co-planned plus her content was off the charts in terms of interest. In fact, my head was spinning with ideas when I left the session.
The fourth grade students had been working on exploring their school and career goals as experts have suggested that elementary school is the time to begin these conversations. It also helps students connect what they are learning with the question, “Why do I care about learning this?”
During the presentation, Noel, who directs a division at Dart Container focused on innovation, talked briefly about her goals and current work, and then got into the heart of the session, emphasizing product design and marketing. The content served to connect the fourth-grade literacy unit on business in the community with real-world experience and work. Noel described how, right here in Mason, she is taking a current product and making it better. Currently, she is doing research and testing reusable, returnable containers. She explained how she gathers information to determine what products to create, then addresses other factors such as speed, price, ease of use and uniqueness.
She shared recent examples of innovation, including clothes made of mushrooms, computer chips that record how many times a garment has been worn, and pencils that do not need sharpening or lead. Her audience was absolutely spellbound.
As expected, she was flooded with questions from students who expressed an interest in working in innovation, including what kinds of jobs, at their age, they could do to make money to save for their education and training to realize their goals. Could you imagine anything more exciting?
Don’t be surprised if a fourth grade student comes knocking at your door and asks to walk your dog, feed the cats, rake leaves or shovel snow - for cash of course! These students are eager to start actualizing their goals after their session with Noel Nolan, one of our very own role models making a difference at a local Mason business.
