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professional development software for students - visual studio, sql server, c++, vb, etc.
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Inquiry-Based Instructional Units for CTE
Various PBL units for CTE - definitely worth a look!
Archive for the 'Engineering/Manufacturing and Industrial Technology' Category
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Ask Patty - Automotive Advice For Women Blog
Automotive Advice for Women. Has some interesting posts about women in the automotive service and motorsports industries
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New Media Programs in the United States
This list of new media schools/departments/programs/concentrations in the United States that grant at least a bachelor degree was created in February 2008 by Dr. Edgar Huang for research purposes.
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Interview Cheat Sheet from Monster Career Advice
Nice outline for preparing for an interview
KansasCity.com is highlighting how the Kansas City School District is planning a cutting-edge Engineering and Construction Academy:
Plans call for a high school that would blend high-tech curriculum with teamwork on projects. It would prepare students whether they aim to study engineering at a four-year university or gain apprenticeship in a skilled trade.
It would be a complete high school adhering to state academic standards, and it would give students the chance to earn up to 20 hours in dual college credit.
The campus also would have a hands-on construction laboratory for middle school and high school students.
Industry, business and education organizations have partnered to provide a great opportunity for Missouri students. Congratulations to Kansas City on an exciting project!
Joppatowne High School (MD) is piloting a new magnet program in 2007-08, the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Magnet Program. Students enter as sophomores. Why this new program? The Homeland Security industry is increasing from the 40 billion dollar business of 2004 to a 180 billion dollar industry by 2015. There are many job opportunities in this burgeoning field. Students will pursue work from multiple pathways:
- Science, Engineering & Technology
- Homeland Security Sciences, Health & Human Services
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement, Business, Finance and Information Technology, Information/Communication Technology
Intriguing. This is definitely a growing field, and Joppatown highlights where students can continue their post-secondary studies.
Critics wonder if this is education or indoctrination. Mother Jones magazine called Joppatowne “the academy of military-industrial-complex studies.”
Bob Vila (host of the shows “Bob Vila” and “This Old House”) recorded a podcast for the Association for Career and Technical Education.
Vila describes the current state of the construction industry, he provides advice on how to increase the number of talented workers by suggesting making more apprenticeships available and encouraging students to obtain certifications. Vila also reveals the top innovations in construction over the past 20 years and on a more personal note, about his father’s influence on his life.
Math in typical high school classrooms is often missing a meaningful context. The trend in career and technical education is to purposefully embed academics, such as math, within the career and technical education curriculum. Ever wonder how math could be embedded in the construction field?
Renton Technical College’s (WA) Center of Construction Excellence created the Construction Math Toolbox, an online resource filled with applied math activities for the construction classroom. These materials are not copyrighted and may be freely distributed and reproduced. The materials are rather bland and lacking compelling graphics and design, but the idea to provide the materials is admirable and welcome!
Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Growth has produced brochures highlighting the career outlook in Michigan through 2012. Here are two of interest to us here at the CACC:
- Michigan Career Outlook through 2012 (PDF)
- Michigan Career Outlook through 2012: Lansing, including Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties (PDF)
Here are the 12 fastest-growing occupations through 2012 here in the mid-Michigan area, with the estimated percentage of job growth:
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Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software, 66.8%
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Computer Software Engineers, Applications, 55.2%
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Home Health Aides, 40.3%
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Self-Enrichment Education Teachers, 39.7%
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Amusement, Recreation Attendants, 39.3%
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Network/Computer Systems Administrators, 38.4%
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Management Analysts, 38.1%
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Computer/Information Systems Managers, 37.9%
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Medical Assistants, 37.4%
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Personal Financial Advisors, 35.1%
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Social, Human Service Assistants, 34.1%
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Pharmacists, 31.9%
Check out the brochures for interesting career trends. Current Michigan Labor Market Information now has projections for 2004-2014 as well as other interesting current statistics.
Michigan is seeing an increase in health care, IT and service industries. Are we considering these trends in our instructional decisions? How can we make our students aware of the opportunities in these fields? Does Michigan still have manufacturing? Of course it does, but manufacturing is not the only game in town anymore. And many of the fields experiencing substantial growth require post-secondary training. The CACC is postioned well to serve as a conduit into many of these fast-growing fields.
It is hard for youth to imagine what the manufacturing environment looks like. How are things made? Where are things made? Factory tours are often restricted to children. So how can we help students imagine and understand what the manufacturing world holds? One way is to visit How Everyday Things Are Made, created by the Alliance for Innovative Manufacturing at Stanford University.
This website has rich video content that ”covers over 40 different products and manufacturing processes, and includes almost 4 hours of manufacturing video. It is targeted towards non-engineers and engineers alike. Think of it as your own private online factory tour, or a virtual factory tour, if you wish.“ Ever wonder about those Jelly Belly jelly beans? Check it out!