The Southern Regional Education Board released a study called Crafting a new vision for high school: How states can join academic and technical studies to promote learning. This study highlights how today’s career and technical education courses can be rigorous partners in the educational process, bringing relevance to student learning. The introduction packs a punch:
We are convinced that harnessing the applied teaching strategies of career/technical education (CTE) and infusing them into college-preparatory academics can transform our secondary schools into highperforming centers of learning where students are both challenged and engaged. By pursuing this strategy, states can help many more students master both the academic content and the innovative thinking, problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills they will need for postsecondary studies and 21st-century careers.
High-quality CTE programs are far more advanced than their vocational predecessors, and many
restless college-bound students are already attracted to career/technical (CT) courses in which they can apply the academic content they are learning in authentic, hands-on contexts. Students begin to see the “why” behind the knowledge and skills they are expected to gain. They are no longer asked by teachers to “wait and see” how the content of the academic curriculum will be relevant in their lives and careers.
Research shows that good CTE programs can reduce high school dropout rates and increase the earning power of high school graduates. More students stay in school when they can concentrate on career and technical studies. Students who struggle to learn specific academic skills in a traditional classroom environment are often better served through the project-based learning and problem-solving strategies that are hallmarks of today’s best CT courses.
This report is an interesting set of findings, observations, challenges and solutions on partnering CTE with traditional secondary education. Given the pressures of NCLB, CTE can provide a wealth of resources and opportunities to help ALL students succeed.
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Google is hosting a competition for students to customize the Google logo. As career and technology educators, you could have your students enter this contest, focusing on careers, career and technical education, particular career pathways, particular careers, global understanding, etc. Why should you consider this? There is great power in being able to generate meaning through visual representation - it requires critical thinking and synthesis.
Here are some details:
Welcome to Doodle 4 Google, a competition where we invite K-12 students to play around with our homepage logo and see what they come up with. This year we’re inviting U.S. kids to join in the doodling fun, around the intriguing theme “What if…?”
At Google we believe in thinking big, and dreaming big, and we can’t think of anything more important than encouraging students to do the same. So we hope you’ll gather those art supplies and some 8.5×11 landscape paper and encourage your kids to enrich us all with their creative visions of our world, as it is and as it might be.
You’ll find everything you need to get started here, including detailed lesson plans to incorporate the competition into your curricula. Registration closes on March 28th, and entries are due by April 12th. A panel of judges will select 40 finalist doodles, from which the public will help select a favorite to be featured on our homepage on May 22nd, 2008.
Google is supplying some lesson ideas, templates of the graphic, and more. Check the Google for Educators forum and check out other teacher’s experiences with the contest as well as with various Google services.
Need some more inspiration? Watch this video:
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ACTE has released the information for the 2008 Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay Contest:
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) sponsors an essay contest in the memory of former ACTE Senior Director of Communications, Cliff Weiss (1951-2004). Cliff Weiss had a passion for career and technical education. He believed very strongly in the value of career and technical education and always felt privileged to be involved in bringing the message of this value to the public. Cliff shared his gift for writing and with it, enhanced everything that was done at ACTE. The purpose of this contest is to recognize CTE students who share the same passion and talents. One entry in each category, secondary and postsecondary, will be selected to receive an award of $250.
The 2008 topic for secondary students is “How would you communicate the impact and importance of CTE related to your community?” 500 word maximum.
The topic for postsecondary students is “How do you envision the type of programs and course content in career and technical education evolving over the next few years and what is driving this change?” 500 word minimum.
The winning essay will get published in print and online by ACTE. Good luck students!
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The Association for Career and Technical Education has resources for celebrating national Career and Technical Education month. Of note are two video PSAs (Public Service Announcements) available:
Finding Your Way
We Are The Future
The ACTE resources page has information on how to submit these PSAs to your local media outlet!
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