Exploration of Vocational and Technical training

1
Exploration of Vocational and Technical
training

• Course Pilot
• Spring 2008

Instructor Desmond Byrne dbyrne1_at_csnewfrontiers.q
c.ca
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Pilot Course Specifics

• Howard S Billings H.S. operates
• on a 9 day/4 period-75 min per period per day
  cycle.
• For a total of 36 periods.
• With the year divided into 4 academic terms.
• As an option course Explo -Voc occupies 4
  periods in that 36 period grid.
• Offered as a 2 credit 50hr or a 4 credit 100hr
  course format.
• The pilot course was in the end operated under
  the 2 credit format.
• Class enrollment 15 Secondary V students.
• The pilot course began in mid-February two weeks
  into Term 4, due to government accreditation
  issues (codes, course credits, etc)

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Facilities

• Class and research sessions take place in a newly
  constructed POP EXPLO - VOC computer
  lab/seminar facility. With 35 computer stations
  and conference tables.

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Attitudes Responsibility for the
exploration Open-mindedness Introspection
Strategies Exploration strategies -
information-gathering - hands-on experimentation
- observation Metacognitive strategies Career-plan
ning strategies Communication strategies
Competency 1 Explores vocational training
Competency 2 Determines his/her suitability
for vocational training

• Concepts
• Concepts related to vocational training
• Concepts related to the job market
• Concepts related to the career-planning process

• Tools
• Experimentation tools
• Observation tools and methods
• Information-gathering and documentary research
  tools and methods
• Reflective and follow-up tools
• Methodological tools

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Information-gathering Web based
research Training programs Government
information sites Assessment surveys Career Perso
nality Aptitude
Strategies Exploration strategies -
information-gathering - hands-on experimentation
- observation Metacognitive strategies Career-plan
ning strategies Communication strategies
Competency 1 Explores vocational training
Competency 2 Determines his/her suitability
for vocational training
Hands-on experimentation Observation NOVA
Student for a Day Career Fairs Industry Short
term work placements
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Concepts related to vocational training the
job market the career-planning process
Competency 1 Explores vocational training
Competency 2 Determines his/her suitability
for vocational training
Team Web-based research mini-projects Group
Discussions Invited Guest speakers
Understanding the value of vocational training.
What is the job market? How do you plan a
career?

• Concepts
• Concepts related to vocational training
• Concepts related to the job market
• Concepts related to the career-planning process

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Basic Computer skills Document
treatment Understanding how to interpret
government information sources Student log
Keeping track of the information! Formatting
and collating the data. Being able to record in
a cohesive manner, impressions and events
Competency 1 Explores vocational training
Competency 2 Determines his/her suitability
for vocational training

• Tools
• Experimentation tools
• Observation tools and methods
• Information-gathering and documentary research
  tools and methods
• Reflective and follow-up tools
• Methodological tools

8
Attitudes Responsibility for the
exploration Open-mindedness Introspection
Understanding and experiencing a
professional/work environment Personal work /
workplace integrity Punctuality - Appearance
Competency 1 Explores vocational training
Competency 2 Determines his/her suitability
for vocational training
Understanding the value of a Vocational or
Technical Career Understanding how they fit into
this picture that they are building. Debunking
the perception of a university education being
the measure of life success.
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The learning is in the doing. - Henry
Ford
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Student For-a-day NOVA

• The Students as part of their course have the
  opportunity to spend the day as a student in the
  numerous programs at The NOVA Career Centre.
• Since the beginning of May each student has begun
  a series of full day visits to specified
  programs
• Welding
• Automotive Maintenance
• Drafting
• Accounting,
• Interior Design
• Hair Dressing
• After each visit they report to the class as a
  group, report on their experiences their
  impressions, activities, their perceptions of the
  vocation, etc

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Vocational and technical education sectors in
which Nova offers instruction

• 01 Administration, Commerce and Computer
  Technology
• 02 Agriculture and Fisheries
• 03 Food Services and Tourism
• 04 Arts
• 05 Woodworking and Furniture Making
• 06 Chemistry and Biology
• 07 Buildings and Public Works
• 08 Land Use Planning and the Environment
• 09 Electro-technology
• 10 Motorized Equipment Maintenance
• 11 Mechanical Manufacturing
• 12 Forestry and Pulp and Paper
• 13 Communications and Documentation
• 14 Maintenance Mechanics
• 15 Mining and Site Operations
• 16 Metallurgical Technology
• 17 Transportation
• 18 Fashion, Leather and Textiles
• 19 Health Services

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Pilot Course modeling overview

• In preparing this pilot course, numerous possible
  scenarios were contemplated.
• In the end, model 1 in Appendix 2 of the QEP
  document, was followed as a guideline for time
  management of the varied elements for the course.
• This model was the most logical choice based on
  
• - Time constraints.
• Shortened lead time to organize outs to
  industry and other ECA events.
• - End of year scholastic restraints.
• - Availability of in school resources.

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Pilot Course modeling
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Informational

• Research
• Exploring the 21 sectors of Vocational and
  Technical Training
• Analysis of online resources
• Collecting and synthesis of information.

• Understanding
• What is Vocational training vs the
  CEGEP/University stream

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Informational (contd)

• Career Planning
• Mapping out educational needs to enter into
  desired field
• Resume and Interview skills

• Job Market
• Where and what is needed.
• Salary expectations
• Job conditions

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Experimentation
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Reflection
Observation

• Self-assessment
• What are their aptitudes?
• What interests?
• Student Log.

• Presenting to peers
• Impressions
• Teaching to learn
• Class Discussion

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Concerns and difficulties

• Time
• Criteria for student participation.
• Basic Skills
• Policy of core course absenteeism.
• (Cycle 2 year 2 MELS courses).
• Student and parental concerns.

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WEBSITES

• Vocational and Technical training in Quebec
• HeadingForSuccess - govt of Quebec
• careercruising.com commercial site
• Job Futures HRDC Canada
• Job Futures - HRDC Canada
• yo home govt of Canada
• CanLearn govt of Canada
• Essential Skills HRDC Canada
• workinfoNET govt of Manitoba
• Yes Montreal Ville de Montreal

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Sectors and Associated training programs
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• dbyrne1_at_csnewfrontiers.qc.ca