Manufacturing program brings hands-on learning to Drake Middle School
Published: Jun 2, 2025 4:30 PM
By Carla Nelson
At J.F. Drake Middle School in Auburn, sixth-grade students recently stepped into the roles of engineers, business leaders, and quality control specialists, all within the span of a single class period.
The experience was part of Bird Inc., an innovative simulation led by Auburn University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS). The 50-minute activity transforms the classroom into a mock manufacturing floor where students work in teams to produce and sell owl decoys. While building the product is part of the fun, students also engage in pricing, budgeting, and decision-making exercises that mirror real-world operations.
Carrie Williams, a sixth-grade science teacher at Drake, said the program quickly became a highlight of the semester.
“The students at DMS enjoyed this opportunity that extended and enriched their learning,” Williams said. “They were enthusiastic about getting to make contributions to the manufacturing process and to learn more about how decisions are made and the influence of different peoples’ roles throughout that process.”
Behind the energy of the program is John Cranston, Bird Inc.’s creator and lead facilitator. Cranston brings decades of experience in engineering, including work on major NASA contracts, to his role. But it’s his ability to connect with students and spark curiosity that makes the program stand out.
During his visit to Drake Middle School, Cranston delivered six full days of presentations, guiding students through simulations while sharing insights on education, choices and personal growth.
This spring alone, Cranston and the ICAMS team have brought the program to more than 30 schools across Alabama, reaching thousands of students in both rural and urban communities. With support from a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, Bird Inc. is on track to engage more than 28,000 sixth graders statewide over the next two years.
The program doesn’t just focus on technical knowledge. It emphasizes soft skills like collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
“Our students were able to use problem-solving skills, employ basic engineering methods, and collaborate with one another to achieve a greater purpose,” Williams added. “They also learned skills that helped them to evaluate efficiency and form judgments about good and bad decisions.”
Bird Inc. is more than just a fun class activity, it’s part of a larger effort by ICAMS to broaden awareness of manufacturing and STEM career paths at an early age. ICAMS director Greg Harris believes that exposure at the middle school level is critical for helping students envision a wide range of future possibilities.
And for Williams, the program fits perfectly into her goals as an educator.
“This is a great enrichment opportunity for career-prep,” she said. “Students are given the ability to see beyond the scope of their personal sphere of experience to that of other ideas, dreams, goals and possibilities.”
As Bird Inc. continues to grow, Cranston and the ICAMS team are not only shifting how students view manufacturing, they’re helping them imagine brighter futures built on smart choices, teamwork, and the confidence to try something new.
Media Contact: , carla@auburn.edu, 334-844-1404
During his visit to Drake Middle School, program director John Cranston delivered six full days of presentations, guiding students through simulations while sharing insights on education, choices and personal growth.
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