It's a long way from a textbook to real-life application of anything, and that's the impetus behind Sierra College's Tech-Explorer program.The one-day class taken to Nevada and Placer County schools is designed to use math and science skills in a real way by producing small catapults. The hope is the experience will create a local work force to fill the manufacturing and technical jobs found in both counties.Last week, the program stopped at Chicago Park School, where middle school students were busy drilling holes, filing parts and putting together catapults for a competition that ends the day.Although it took a …