AG00384_.GIF (5274 bytes)CYBER NEWS

2002 Theme and Dates

NATIONAL TECH PREP CONFERENCE - Shawn Scott, Kenesaw 

The most positive experience I had while at the National Tech Prep Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio 2002 was to listen to two particular speakers and gathering ideas from colleagues. 

The first speaker was Chad Foster and teaching teenagers to prepare for the real world.  Mr. Foster,  a very motivating speaker, talked about helping young people develop the communication, networking, people, and public speaking skills needed to succeed in the world of work.  He outlined the ten-day project based curriculum that has been used in thousands of classrooms nationwide.  After listening to this presentation, I went to work right away on how I could use his information in my own school.

The second speaker I listened to on two different occasions on two different topics.  Jason Dorsey is a national best-selling author who provided an energetic program on Inspiring Hard-To-Reach Students and Shaping School Culture.  Mr. Dorsey focused on competency skills that are needed for success in all aspects of lifelong learning.  He also educated participants on how to connect with hard-to-reach students, and leave these students believing in themselves, which in my opinion is maybe the best thing a teacher can teach students.

Whenever you go to any type of conference or workshop, one thing you need to do is gather information for your own use through meeting and talking with other people.  I was able to do this on several occasions throughout the conference by talking with fellow teachers, program coordinators, and administrators.  The conference did a great job of allowing this to happen by proper planning and having natural social times build into the three-day program.

 "A Resume Alone Won't Get You the Job You Want"              Bob Bednar, Pleasanton High School

The 2002 National Tech Prep Network Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio was an outstanding professional development experience. One of the sessions I attended was presented by Diane Hodges of San Diego. Her presentation, "A Resume Alone Won¹t Get You the Job You Want," talked about the importance of developing a portfolio. She advocated helping students begin a portfolio in the eighth grade and improving it each year throughout high school and college. She also discussed a variety of tools for the job seeker including the use of business cards, personal brochures highlighting accomplishments and skills, and mini folios, or a brief portfolio that can be used as an attachment to a resume. Even though these products are not required by most employers, the job applicant can have the winning edge in an interview with these marketing tools. This session was very helpful in thinking of a variety of ways to help students to be successful.

You Can Do It! 

Another session was led by Jason Dorsey of Austin, Texas. Jason is a best selling author and has appeared in numerous television news shows. His session, "You Can Do It: Shaping School Culture for Increased Student Academic and Social Performance," presented a number of ideas in a humorous format. He advocates helping students develop skills for the job market, helping; them feel empowered to make a difference in life. Mr. Dorsey, only 24 years old, talked of his experiences in starting several businesses and helping students who do not feel they can make a difference.

 Shawn Scott's Top 11 List of Knowledge Acquired at  National Tech Prep Conference

1.  Tech Prep is one of the few programs in the nation that focus' on specifics of developing students for employment.

2.  Flying is not for everyone.

3.  Tech Prep is for all schools of all sizes, from teachers to administrators to board members.

4.  What some teachers and schools across the nation are doing is phenomenal.  Some of the projects and programs that are set up educate and motivate students in very creative ways.

5.  The networking and socializing with people from across the nation will pay off for years to come.  I even learned what people are doing in my own state that I was not aware of.

6.  Motivational speakers, I have seen the best, Chad Foster and Jason Dorsey.  If you have the chance to have these guys speak to your students, do it.

7.  Career guidance is critical for Tech Prep.  Students at the high school level are not exposed to the array of jobs out there.  Career guidance is essential for every school.

8.  As a teacher and coordinator, I now understand how tech prep works from the national level down to each school.  I now understand the world of Tech Prep within my own actions and program.

9.  There are topics for every person, administrators, teachers, counselors, coordinators, etc. and each has an important job within Tech Prep.

10.  Airport security is tough.  If you look suspicious just plan on being searched.  (Shawn would know!)

11.  If you have never been to the National Tech Prep Conference, plan on it.  This will benefit you and your students in numerous ways.

Turning Students on to Design Careers and Postsecondary Ed through CAD and Rapid Prototyping                    Gaylen Kamrath, David City

This session was presented by faculty members Daniel Wanink, Rick Eldridge and Mark Hill of Ferris State University, Big Springs, MI.  The session described a unique program at Ferris State.  The Ferris State Rapid Prototyping Center is an outreach program to high schools allowing students to create parts from their computer aided designed geometry.  The goal of the project is to encourage secondary students to explore options in the design and manufacturing fields by allowing them access to high end applications. 

The Rapid Prototyping Center was first started in 1990 as one of the first 10 universities to qualify for implementation of 3D systems.  A Stratasys Rapid Prototyping System was acquired in January 2001 by support of 8 companies, the Articulation Dept. at Ferris State, the Dean's Office and program monies.  Ferris State established the CAD Drafting and Tool Design Rapid Prototyping Center in March 2001.  The Center works by providing a link between high school students, Ferris State and successful careers.

What is Rapid Prototyping?  RP is the process of creating a physical 3D part from 3D CAD data usually utilizing processes like SLA, LOM, and FDM.  The process is "rapid" but not instant.  Build time depends on model size.  The prototype is made from plastic polymer materials.

What is the process to create an RP model?  You create an electronic 3D model, usually utilizing CAD solids, export the electronic model to .stl format, prep the model on the RP machine and then, like magic, print a physical model.  Areas that use RP are products, tooling, dental, medical and many others.

The ultimate high school RP project goal is to transfer RP technology to the high school level including chatroom discussions, motivate students to take an interest in high tech technical fields and further their education in the C.D.T.D. program at a postsecondary level.  Ferris State provides training to instructors and students with summer camps.  For more information contact fsurpc@ferris.org or www.ferris.edu/cdtd

COOL Week

COOL Week (Career Opportunities on Location) is a structured, weeklong, work-based experience for all 11th grade students at Leander Independent School District (LISD).  All 11th grade students are assigned to job sites in career fields of their choosing for an entire week.  Students work in teams of two or three and must apply to participate.

Goals for the students are to understand what they are learning in school is used in the work place.  Students apply skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving and communication throughout the week's activities.  they learn how specific training required being successful in those occupations.  Students make better informed decisions based on actual work experience.

While on location, students are given the opportunity to fill out an application and interview with human resources employees.  Feedback is given so the students learns from this experience.  Students are then given an orientation to the work place and are presented with a project/problem to work on for the week.  Teams are assigned to coinciding departments.  As much hands on experience as possible is given to enhance learning.  The more realistic the project, the more productive the experience is for the business and student.  Students keep a daily journal to log activities, notes and reflections.

On Friday, the students are given the opportunity to prepare their project solution proposals and present their ideas to employers.  These presentations may also be given when students return to class, faculty meetings, or on the school web site.  Students thank businesses by letter, certificate, or gift and a list is published in the local newspaper.  For more information contact:  NancyScott@leander.esd.tenet.edu  cphs.leander.esd.tenet.edu

TEENAGERS PREPARING FOR THE REAL WORLD by Barb Huls - GI Northwest

       Mr. Chad Foster shared his personal experiences and thoughts on what makes people successful. And his ideas are quite practical and attainable for anyone who is willing to put forth the effort. Mr. Foster shared what he considers to be the common denominators of successful people:  

  • Communication skills - Successful people have the ability to talk to anyone at any time.  
  • Large vocabulary - Successful people know lots of words, not just big words.  Knowledge of current events - Successful people know what's going on in the real world.  
  • Listening skills - Successful people are good listeners because you only learn when you listen, not when you talk.
  • Diverse knowledge - Successful people know something about a lot of subjects--this makes them more interesting to talk to. 
  •   Personal contacts - Successful people have hundreds of contacts from all walks of life.  
  • Community involvement - Successful people are involved in volunteer work and community organizations.  
  • Professional fulfillment - Successful people like what they do for a living. They didn't just get any job--they got the right job.
Mr. Foster believes communication is the KEY. Simple things like a handwritten personal thank-you still has a strong influence in the business world. He also believes in making contacts early, and then maintaining those contacts. For him, staying in contact with someone he met as a 19-year old allowed him to be the primary supplier of over 3,000 rubberized McDonald's playgrounds.
         

Mr. Foster's book "Teenagers Preparing for the Real World" provides practical tips in an entertaining manner through short stories that demonstrate his key points. And his book is one that every one can enjoy and learn from--not just teenagers.


STEP

A third session was presented by teachers from West Mesa High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their school participates in Project STEP (Scientific and Technological Education in Photonics) funded in part by the Federal Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. The project seeks to prepare students for engineering careers and engineering technology careers. Curriculum materials were shared that help students to be well prepared for the community college or four year college program. The need for qualified workers in engineering, optic technology and photonics is expected to more than double by 2005. Pilot schools are being sought with training available for teachers in these programs. The session was very motivating and encourage teaches to develop relationships with business and industry, with the goal of preparing students for a changing job market.

Leveraging Instant Messaging                                            

Tracy L. Schuller Adrian, Hastings St. Cecilia

Presented by Craig Collins and John Chamberlain, from CORD, Waco Texas.

This presentation was for teachers and others who would like to catch up with their students -- who are already using instant messaging software, such as Microsoft Network (MSN) Messenger, American Online (AOL) Instant Messenger, and ICQ (ISeekYou).  The presenters set up user accounts on MSN Messenger for the workshop participants and used this platform for the demonstration.

  Most instant messaging services utilize software that needs to be downloaded to a user’s machine.  MSN Messenger is already built in to Microsoft Windows XP.  Users with earlier versions of Windows or of Macintosh platform must browse to http://www.msn.com to download the messenger software.

  Once the software is downloaded and opened, users must sign in to begin using the application.  Users may choose to sign up using an existing email address or obtain one during the sign up process from hotmail, which is part of the MSN Network (called .NET).  This registration also provides access to several other .NET Web sites. 

  Workshop participants were given a demonstration and were able to practice the following skills:

  • add contacts to their Messenger lists
  • send and receive messages and “emotions”
  • send and receive files using the Messenger software
  • invite other individuals to a multi-user conversation

  In addition to conversing electronically, MSN Messenger also allows users to

  • share applications
  • share video and audio files
  • participate in online voice messaging
  • participate in online video messaging.

  Collins and Chamberlain also discussed the uses of Messenger’s big brother, Microsoft NetMeeting.  NetMeeting is an application for Power Users -- it has more features, but is somewhat more difficult to use.  It also comes with a price tag, unlike MSN Messenger, which is free.   How can we use this?

Increased ability to communicate and collaborate.

  • Classroom teachers can communicate with administration and staff immediately and privately: “Sally Student is crying, can I send her to the office?”
  • College teachers, high school teachers, and Tech Prep coordinators could collaborate simultaneously without even leaving their respective offices or classrooms.

  • During a computer lab situation, students might be more willing to ask for help privately.  Teachers could report test scores privately, also.

  • It could be used as a way to send lunch count or attendance to the office.

  • Messenger allows students to all work on the same document through application sharing.  This can work in a lab situation or even during off school hours while students are at home doing homework and/or chatting anyway.

The message is perhaps rather than treat MSN Messenger and other “chat” software as just another program to be blocked, discouraged, or ignored; perhaps we should harness the technological power it has.  The students are already using it to communicate and collaborate -- alright, so it may be to flirt, to swap pictures or MP3’s, or to plan a party.  This same technology can be used to discuss and ask questions, swap research and share work, or plan a school or work project.  Perhaps it’s time we learned how to use this to our advantage.  Handouts available at: http://aspen.cord.org/ntpn/

 WORK ETHICS: DO YOUR STUDENTS MAKE THE GRADE?
Barb Huls, Grand Island Northwest

Presenters: Rhonda Posey, Mary Shivers, Lynn Boykin, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Wesson, Mississippi
  Do your students view "going to school" as their full-time job? Most students probably spend at least 40 hours a week engaged in school activities--whether it be sitting in the classroom, participating in extra-curricular activities, or doing homework at night, and most of this activity takes place Monday through Friday. And isn't that what a job is to some people--working 40-plus hours a week, generally Monday through Friday.
 

Now, if attending school is a student's full-time job, are we as educators evaluating them under the same standards that they will be evaluated in the actual workplace? Some people will argue that it's not the school's responsibility to teach "work ethics," but if we don't teach them, who will? Most employers would rather have an "average" student with good work ethics than a straight "A" student who doesn't really know how to apply themselves on the job.
    

At Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi, three instructors have changed their classrooms into work sites, and the students are not only graded on the quality of their work but also on four key elements critical to an employer:
   (1) Commitment -- Students are expected to give their best efforts at all times. Commitment means not quitting or expecting others to do the work for them. Too many students are quitting their jobs when it's too difficult or they don't like certain aspects of the job; and based on recent turnover rates, that pattern is becoming more prevalent in the workplace. Are we as instructors looking for commitment from our students or are they content to just "get by"?
   (2) Attendance -- Not only are students expected to attend class every day, but they are expected to be early. No more running in the door as the bell rings, but they should be organized and ready to begin that day's activities before the actual starting time. If a student is going to be absent, they are expected to let the instructor know ahead of time by phone or e-mail, just as they would in the workplace. Most schools are much more lenient with their attendance policy than the workplace. Letting our students be absent 10 times a semester is not acceptable in the workplace so we do we allow it in our schools?
     (3) Respect -- Not only are they talking about respect for the teacher or other authoritative figures, but they also expect students to treat other students with respect. Are the students contributing to a classroom environment that everyone would want to be a part of or are they being disruptive and not pulling their fair share of the load?
   (4) Professional image -- Students are expected to follow certain dress codes. Appropriate attire may mean closed toe shoes or safety goggles for a lab environment. In a business class, appropriate attire may mean no jeans or t-shirts. They aren't talking three-piece suits or shirts and ties--they just want the students to look nice.

Because of some of the changes that a few teachers made, Copiah-Lincoln Community College now has a new attendance policy and professional image guidelines for ALL students to follow.  By viewing the classroom as the workplace, they are hoping students will be more prepared for that next step.