A group of 42 Oxford Middle School students enrolled in the school’s Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses got an inside look at some of the auto industry’s latest and greatest last Wednesday during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) Education Day in Detroit.

PLTW is a national program which incorporates national standards in math, science and technology.

The program is designed to show students how technology is used in engineering to solve every day problems. It aims to teach students to be creative and innovative, while gaining the skills they need to develop, produce and use products and services.

It also supports OMS’ Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)-focused curriculum.

The trip to the auto show was meant to help students draw connections between their PLTW courses and everyday life, according to OMS Counselor Chris Gill, who served as an organizer for the event.

“Hopefully the kids can relate some of the things that (were there) to the things they’ve learned in PLTW, since students start learning a STEM-based curriculum early— beginning in 6th grade,” said Gill.

From there, according to Gill, the curriculum becomes progressively more involved for the students. In the first year, students receive an introduction to design. By the second year, students begin to learn about engineering.

“By eighth-grade, we pull that all together so hopefully they can make connections between the things they see and learn at the auto show and see how it relates to the things they learn in the classroom,” said Gill.”We want them to see that the things they learn in the classroom (are) also out there in the real world.”

Six-time Top Fuel World Clay Millican was also a featured guest that day.

Millican spent time with students, offered safe driving tips and exhibited his top fuel dragster.

Keynote speakers spoke about a variety of topics, including changes currently taking place within the auto industry.

For college-minded students, representatives from engineering schools like Lawrence Technological University in Southfield were also there to give the students insight on the programs they offer.