CTE- Ebook

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION Design and Build a Comprehensive CTE Program in Your School

A GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

PARTNERING WITH EDUCATORS TO PREPARE THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW!

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR.

Dear Educators,

We hope you are filled with enthusiasm for the exciting journey of nurturing young minds. As dedicated educators your goal is to prepare students for a successful and fulfilling future. It is with great pleasure that we present to you a comprehensive guide on Career and Technical Education (CTE) - a powerful tool that opens doors of opportunities for students like never before. Career and Technical Education (CTE) offers students invaluable opportunities to explore various career paths, gain practical skills, and develop a strong foundation for their future. This guide aims to provide educators with a wealth of information about CTE education and training, equipping them with the knowledge to create engaging and relevant learning experiences. Whether you're seeking to enhance your existing CTE curriculum or starting a new program from scratch, this guide will serve as a valuable resource to empower and inspire the next generation of skilled professionals. CTE is not just an alternative pathway but an essential part of a comprehensive education that prepares students for success in a rapidly changing world. This guide aims to equip you with the tools and insights needed to design and implement a meaningful CTE program that will benefit your students for years to come. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to students' growth and development. Together, let's shape a brighter future through Career and Technical Education!

Warm regards, Midwest Technology Products

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What is CTE? “CTE” is an abbreviation for “career and technical education”. This is used to describe courses that are intended to prepare students for careers immediately after high school, or for moving on to technical education. These are typically not geared towards those seeking a 4-year degree. What is CTE in an IEP? CTE enrollment is beneficial for all students, but has an even greater impact on those in special education programs. Students in special education are required to have an individualized education program (IEP). Each IEP is unique to the student and based on their personal situation to help them achieve state and personal educational goals. Including CTE in an IEP helps students develop technical trade skills so they’re better prepared to enter the workforce after high school. They’ll also learn soft skills such as collaboration, communication, and problem solving which they’ll use in daily life, regardless of what their future plans include. What are Examples of CTE in School? Welding, woodworking, foundry, HVAC, automotive, electrical, and many other content areas are all common courses in a CTE program. Even students who do not choose careers in these areas can benefit from the skills they’ll learn. Managing household DIY projects, relaxing with a fun hobby, or even earning money as a side income are all possible with CTE skills learned in school.

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What are the Benefits of a CTE Program? Many parents, administrators, and even educators wonder “Are CTE programs worth it?” We wholeheartedly say yes! If you’re just getting started with a CTE program in your school, it can feel overwhelming. However, the more time, money, and effort you put into designing and building it will directly impact your students’ success. The benefits of a CTE program are impactful in the classroom, but can also last long past graduation. Students get an opportunity to explore potential careers in a risk-free environment. They won’t find out they dislike the career they’ve chosen after spending years of time and thousands of dollars in college. Students get an opportunity to learn real-world skills while still in the safety of a school classroom. Whether the student ends up in a career using the skills they’ve learned, they will still find them valuable in their adult life. By participating in CTE programs while still in school, they have the opportunity to earn credentials and certifications in their chosen industry, giving them a head start after graduation. Speaking of graduation, students who participate in CTE courses are more likely to complete their high school education. A major contributor to this increased graduation rate is that students see how what they are learning in the classroom can be used in the real world and in their future careers. For those who do desire further education, leaving high school with CTE experiences helps set students up for success in postsecondary education and training. This is especially helpful for those who struggle academically and would not be successful in a traditional 4-year university.

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Building a CTE Program’s Curriculum CTE programs can provide tremendous benefits when set up correctly. When you’re wondering how to build a CTE program, you want to start with your end goal in mind. Perhaps you want to offer students more options to lower dropout rates, use an interdisciplinary approach to improve student achievement in core classes, or provide electives that help students become college and career ready. Knowing your end goal will help you determine which courses to offer, how to staff them, ways to provide PD opportunities, find funding for the program, and plan for future assessments. What are the Characteristics of CTE Curriculum? Regardless of your end goal, all successful programs will have similar characteristics of the CTE curriculum. Most notably, programs should be relevant and rigorous. Student work should be based on real-world problems in high-growth industries and offer realistic opportunities to learn common skills necessary for adulthood. Students should also feel challenged by standards-aligned academics and industry-developed skill standards to keep them engaged and excited to continue with the curriculum. What are the Basic Principles of CTE? The basic principles of CTE help ensure your program is standards-aligned and provides students with the skills they’ll need after high school. A comprehensive program should be aligned to the National Career Clusters Framework. It’s also important to connect with employers in your community and discuss the skills your students need to learn to be successful at those companies. Designing and providing high-quality, dynamic CTE programs helps ensure students are prepared to succeed in post-secondary education and the workforce. Aligning your CTE program with ever-changing labor market needs equips students with 21st-century skills for in-demand careers in high-growth industries.

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It starts with focused classroom instruction where students gain the basic knowledge of the topic. Laboratory learning is where students get hands on and develop the technical skills they’ve been learning about in the classroom. This can include simulation labs, PBL, and demonstrations. Work-based learning opportunities provide students with sustained interactions with employers in a real workplace setting. This gives them first-hand engagement with the tasks that are required in specific careers. At the end of a course, students should be assessed with both a written exam of academic skills as well as a demonstration or performance of the technical skills they’ve learned. What are the 4 Components of a CTE program? The 4 components of a CTE program ensure a well-rounded education for all students. 1. 2. 3. 4. What are 3 Unique Elements of CTE programs? Some schools may wish to add unique elements to their CTE program to further differentiate their instruction. 1. Getting feedback from students about what they’d like to learn helps educators provide the courses that will interest and engage students. You may also consider local industry needs and offer courses accordingly. For example, a higher focus on agricultural courses in the midwest, automotive manufacturing in Detroit, and aviation engineering in Houston and Florida. Incorporating student leadership opportunities helps students learn how to lead others and manage a team to complete a project. This will serve them as adults in the workplace and may even encourage community involvement. Giving the students the opportunity to earn certifications or college credits while still in high school can help set them up for a successful future. Whether they complete the first level of training, an apprenticeship, or the prerequisites for higher education, they’ll already be starting their life after high school and are more likely to continue on that path. 2. 3.

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Why is CTE Important in Middle School? In 2018, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) was signed into law which provides funding to schools for CTE programs, including the middle grades. Congress has committed to providing $1.4 billion annually for the creation and expansion of CTE programs across the country. This aligns with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which defines middle school as grades 5-8. With this emphasis, many are wondering why CTE is important in middle school. CTE classes in middle school expose students to various college and career options and equip them with transferable skills for high school and beyond. The coursework is introductory, providing students with ample experience to inform their decisions about high school electives. Middle school CTE classes add relevance to what students are learning through real-world options and connect academics with career and postsecondary pathways. CTE can also be helpful for dropout prevention by addressing common challenges in the transition to high school such as disengagement and lack of preparation. Many parents, administrators, and educators may feel that middle school students are too young to be thinking about career choices, but when framed correctly it’s easy to see why CTE is important in middle school. At this stage, coursework is more about career exploration than job training, and students are free to try other areas in high school if they didn’t like the classes they took in middle school. The main emphasis is that CTE helps students prepare for college as well as careers by providing them with real-world skills they’ll need in adulthood, regardless of what path they take.

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Examples of CTE Classes in High School High school CTE courses are often aligned with broader, state-elected career pathways. For example, students on a pathway of technology and engineering may take courses in electronics, aerospace, architecture, or drawing, while students in a family and consumer sciences pathway may take courses about child care, culinary arts, or fashion design. These classes dive deeper into the content and get more focused than the introductory content in middle school CTE courses. In some schools, high school CTE coursework can count towards an apprenticeship, licensure, certification, or college credit. This encourages students to keep going with their education or feel confident entering the workforce.

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AUTOMOTIVE

AIR COMPRESSORS VIEW ONLINE

BENCH TOP PARTS WASHERS VIEW ONLINE

REFRIGERANT RECOVER, RECYCLE, RECHARGE MACHINES VIEW ONLINE

LIFTS VIEW ONLINE

ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING

SOLDERING STATIONS VIEW ONLINE

LED ASSORTMENT KITS VIEW ONLINE

ELECTRONICS PARTS KITS VIEW ONLINE

SOLDER WIRES VIEW ONLINE

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FOUNDRY SUPPLIES

PETROBOND OIL BONDED SAND VIEW ONLINE

WELDER'S TONGS VIEW ONLINE

CRUCIBLES VIEW ONLINE

FIREBRICKS VIEW ONLINE

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

CO2 DRAGSTER KITS VIEW ONLINE

DRONES VIEW ONLINE

BALSA GLIDERS VIEW ONLINE

MODEL BRIDGES VIEW ONLINE

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METALWORKING

GAUGE FOOT SHEARS VIEW ONLINE

BENCH TOP LATHES VIEW ONLINE

TAP & DIE SETS VIEW ONLINE

GRINDERS VIEW ONLINE

SMALL ENGINE

SMALL ENGINE STANDS VIEW ONLINE

ENGINES VIEW ONLINE

SMALL ENGINE TOOL KITS VIEW ONLINE

SPARK PLUGS VIEW ONLINE

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WELDING

AUGMENTED REALITY WELDING SYSTEM VIEW ONLINE

WELDING KITS VIEW ONLINE

WELDING BOOTHS

DISPOSABLE FUME EXTRACTOR VIEW ONLINE

VIEW ONLINE

WOODWORKING

TABLE SAWS VIEW ONLINE

BAND SAWS VIEW ONLINE

DOWNDRAFT SANDING STATIONS VIEW ONLINE

MITER SAWS VIEW ONLINE

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