A New World
Last week was a great week for students at our school. It was time for the Tech Fair. The Tech Fair is one component of our career development and acquisition plan.
The Tech Fair is our version of a college fair and job fair with the CTE twist. I know attending a college fair is not a new idea. I believe the exposure to many options, the integration of the experience into a classroom lesson, and the recording of observations for use in each student’s portfolio is an outcome that appears simple but is actually complex.
As a part time “area vocational-technical school”, our students arrive and exit on a two hour schedule with three rotations during the school day. Usually, little information is known about a five year career goal as students enroll with us. Visiting classrooms and working with students on career guidance is fast paced and no nonsense. As we all know, sometimes our pace and the readiness of a student are not in sync.
The objective of the Tech Fair is to provide our students with educational pathways (schools) and educational outcomes (employers). It provides a no pressure atmosphere for our students to gather information from about 50 education/employment/military vendors and discuss career or school options with representatives. As follow-up, many teachers require students to complete an assignment that integrates reading, writing, and math skills by doing a cost analysis study using individual career goals or another similar activity.
This is a giant step for many of students as they actually record their future and their dreams on paper. Some of our students have never considered education beyond high school. Some of our students believe that further education is their ticket to success but are unsure of the options available at the various community colleges and training schools. For some students comparing cost and what they would receive for their money is a lesson in truth in advertising.
How do we measure the benefit of such an event? In addition to follow-up surveys of the event, we do our own graduate study six months following high school graduation. The study consistently shows that approximately 46-50% of our students pursue further education as their next step beyond high school. Employment and the military round out the three options that give us a placement rate of 94-96% over the past five years.
This is a short version of one task that works for our students. I would really like for you to take a minute and share what works for you and your students. What portion of your career development and acquisition plan carried out in your CTE setting is a favorite of yours? What do you do to make career development click for students? At what age/grade level do you begin serious career development with your students? Do you use any specific tool throughout the middle to hs years?
CTE is an amazing place. I hope you have an amazing day.
