DIY Living is a new class where students learn how to do common household projects. Tech ed teacher Chris Much teaches students how to do the units in DIY Living that can help outside of school, especially in their own homes.
“DIY Living is a new class offered here at Berlin where our goal is to teach students useful skills that they will need as they mature and enter into adulthood on their own,” Much said. “We cover a wide range of topics such as any automotive maintenance/repairs, mounting items onto drywall, fixing holes in drywall, installing or fixing existing plumbing pipes/fixtures/appliances, refinishing old furniture, wiring outlets switches/lights, fixing cords, replacing cords, and many other skills that will be needed. The inspiration for the class came from my own personal experiences and things that I have encountered as a homeowner, car owner, and hobbyist.”
The class involves demonstrations from Much, then the students work hands-on with guidance and supervision from the teacher.
“It’s a fun class. It’s very much hands-on most of the time. Mr. Much knows what he’s doing. He would give us instructions. Then he would just let us work. He’ll give us a demonstration. He’ll just let us do it. He’ll walk around the class, and make sure we’re all doing it right. Other than that he doesn’t get involved too much,” senior Emma Latza said.
DIY Living is open to all student grades 9-12. This gives students a chance to learn and understand more about how they can fix their own homes in the correct way.
“This class will be useful in a couple different ways. One of those ways is that we get exposed to using tools correctly, talking about some common issues that will occur, and hands-on practice on each unit. This could save students a lot of money in the future being able to do these simple yet feared tasks themselves. Another way is that this could lead to a possible career for some students,” Much said.
