Program Schedule

Looking for a future as a technician? TechForce Foundation champions all students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians. Learn about the programs available to aspiring technicians: experiences, scholarships, networking, awards and beyond.

CTE teachers making the transition from the workplace to the classroom have unique challenges. As they transition from professionals in their field to professional educators, structures, and support are necessary to ensure their success. Hear from administrators and teachers from Columbia Area Career Center in Missouri about their system of support for CTE teachers in their first three years in the classroom, and the benefits gained from an intentional focus on the unique needs of these new professionals.

How we ask and answer questions can profoundly shape our decisions and self worth. Questions like: “What do you want to be?”, while well intended, can cause immediate anxiety for those who don’t have strong self- and global-awareness. As 50 percent of the jobs that exist today weren’t invented when we were attending elementary school (the typical time we get asked this question) we are limiting our options for success immediately. This workshop will take participants through self-reflection and will provide suggestions on how to update some questions that we’ve been asking ourselves as youth and adults.

Students and teachers need to be well to do well and learn. The pandemic impacted teacher’s well-being drastically, causing student behaviors to overshadow academic success. In order to guide students back to academic success, it is crucial to prioritize social-emotional learning on campus. This can be achieved through fostering agency, belonging, competency, and success through professional development for educators. This workshop will provide a guidebook for participants to explore student SEL, learn how to address gaps in students’ SEL skills, and how to infuse everyday CTE instruction.

It can be challenging to track students’ work-based learning experiences and outcomes, but the right data can be powerful for program planning. We profiled 6 school districts with innovative approaches to collecting and using WBL data. This session will share ideas from small and large districts, with the goal of helping the CTE field collect data to support program improvement and evaluation, as well as identify gaps in WBL access.

Developing a support network is a key element to a successful transition at any age, both at school and in the workplace. Participants will walk away with a tool that can be implemented at multiple stages in their lives. By having a clearly defined support network, students will understand how to network in the workforce, and ways to address challenging questions versus going at it alone. This tool can be delivered by CTE teachers, Special Education educators, administrators, etc.

This workshop will explain various ways Teacher Preparation and Early Childhood Education instructors can place their students into early childhood, elementary, and middle school classrooms for hands-on training. We will explore ways to embed practicum experiences in classrooms at a variety of ages and grade levels and with specialists such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and family consumer science, art, music, and physical education teachers. Attendees will learn about the effectiveness of paired placements. We will discuss ways for students to collaborate with cooperating teachers to create, implement and reflect on lessons. Participants will leave with a toolbox of strategies that they can use to build high-quality grow-your-own (GYO) and CTE Education and training programs.

Bring your questions and your ideas to this interactive “Think-Pair-Share” Round Table session to discuss the future of Media Communications Education. The Media Communications Industry is evolving more quickly than ever! Many areas such as graphic design, video production, web design etc., that were previously “specialized” are merging. Companies want to hire individuals that can work across all platforms. Additionally we will examine how Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming the industry. As educators, we need to consider the future of media communications and how to best prepare our students to become valuable industry professionals. Discuss the current certifications offered in our industries and which can be implemented with limited classroom seat time. Attendees will discuss the changes, challenges, and opportunities of this future and share ideas, curriculum and resources to support Media Communications educators and students. Attendees will have the opportunity to build a networking of like-minded professionals to connect with now and collaborate with in the future.

Congressional legislation, Administration priorities and the broad national policy dialogue all have the potential to affect your work at the local level. Come learn about the most important policy actions currently impacting CTE, including the latest on the federal budget and appropriations process and other key secondary and postsecondary policy issues.?

Are you new to CTE or a new CTE administrator, or would you just like to understand more about how Perkins funding works? This session will provide a deep dive into the primary federal investment in CTE – the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. We’ll cover how funding is distributed and can be used, accountability requirements, and the local application and CLNA processes, as well as provide information on a variety of resources to help you dive deeper!

Together, SEL and career and workforce development can strengthen one another by finding ways to align and integrate best practices. We will provide numerous examples of how to intentionally promote SEL competencies and environments youth need to thrive in school as they prepare for the workforce. Developing social and emotional skills within equitable learning environments are critical to prepare students for their future.

Are you a new or nearly new CTE Dean at a technical or community college? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the vast amount of knowledge you need to know about hiring, mentoring, and evaluating faculty? Or Perkins, program assessment, student issues, scheduling, advisory committees, etc.? Please join Dr. Dana King to discuss community college CTE Dean survival techniques as well as to network with other CTE Deans. Seasoned Deans are also welcome to join the conversation!

Session attendees will receive an introduction to strategies for planning and implementing opportunities that follow the WBL continuum. Presenter will lead a discussion that addresses implementation of a WBL program, challenges and barriers, employer partnerships, assessment measures, and resources specific to career awareness, career exploration, and career preparedness along the WBL continuum. Tips on developing a plan of action, marketing materials and promotion ideas, forms and tools for coordinators, and reports and data collection will be provided.

Properly implemented supportive services can ensure higher retention rates for apprentices in skilled, nontraditional occupations. However, most CTE programs don’t have a framework for working with state or federal grant programs or their local workforce development board (LWDB) to access Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and non-WIOA funded supportive services for their youth or adult apprentices. Learn how one CTE Center works with its LWDB and braids state and federal apprenticeship grant funding to provide critically-needed supportive services to apprentices. As a Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor, the Special School District of St. Louis County’s Adult CTE Department has implemented a promising programmatic model and support service delivery practice for its multi-occupation adult apprenticeship programs, including Certified Nurse Assistant, Certified Medication Technician and Level One Medication Aide, as well as its “Healthcare S.T.A.R.S.” Pre-Apprenticeship program. These practices range from mentoring, case management, and linkages with community services partners to providing financial assistance with childcare, transportation, housing, and utility costs. This session is part of Safal Partners’ work leading the U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Center of Excellence on System Alignment.

This session will cover what CTE at the middle school level can look like. At our school we believe it’s important for all students to have an opportunity to learn more about themselves, and have an opportunity to explore careers before they select a CTE pathway in high school. In our session we will share how our required semester-long exploratory courses start in 7th grade and cover an exploration into students'' aptitudes, interests, and identities. Throughout the session we will explain how this information is further explored and connected to careers that match their aptitudes and interests. Our session will demonstrate how our 8th grade course builds on our 7th grade course. We will share how the focus shifts to financial literacy, employability skills, and career exploration through hands-on career kits. In our session it will be shared how we incorporate free programs such as Everfi, as well as paid programs such as YouScience. Our session will give participants an insight into the benefits of allowing students to explore careers in order to make informed decisions for their futures.

Hamstring injuries are the most common injury in sports, and the number of injuries per year increases every year. Understanding how to reduce the risk of these injuries plays an important part of an athlete's life. Session attendees will be fully immersed in a hands-on teaching method that brings the intricacies of human anatomy to life in the classroom. Using rigid skeletons and modeling clay, participants will be engaged in the construction of the muscle group that is collectively referred to as the hamstrings. This three dimensional teaching method introduces STEAM into the anatomy classroom and increases student interest and understanding.

With a youth unemployment rate of 58.5% in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and a high percentage of youth migration to the US without the basic CTE skills to acquire a decent employment, the nation is faced with a dilemma. With the support of the RMI government, the College has worked with the necessary stakeholders to deliver relevant skilled programs. The College’s current Adult Basic Education (ABE) program has redesigned its program to deliver a CTE pathway combined with the necessary literacy and numeracy skills. This presentation attempts to share the redesign of the ABE program that provides the opportunity to equip Marshallese youths with the necessary CTE skills that will enable them to become Career ready and has continued to a utilize the Marshallese concept of ‘Jitram Kappel. With the Jitram Kappel' we were able to produce fine weavers, navigators, Master handicraft makers to have a sustainable livelihood. This presentation will share the innovative practices that the College has developed. It will also discuss the learning opportunities and challenges of this redesigned program.

Join this facilitated open discussion with other work-based learning professionals. Come with questions and ideas to share your best practices on topics such as starting a WBL program, connecting with business partners, marketing your program, reviewing curriculum and much more. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and share ideas with those doing the same work as you.

Perkins funding is allocated from the federal government and distributed through each state’s department of education to secondary and postsecondary institutions to strengthen career and technical education (CTE). Each year postsecondary institutions are required to meet three performance indicators: postsecondary placement, earned recognized postsecondary credential, and non-traditional program concentration. While Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) strives to improve student performance in all areas, we are focusing our efforts on improving student success in earned recognized postsecondary credentials. NOVA is currently working to develop strategies to improve student performance in this area including identifying programs of study that are both meeting and not meeting the performance indicator, interviewing students/faculty/staff in those study areas, and meeting with NOVA and Virginia Community College System’s (VCCS) institutional research staff. Here we will discussing the successes and challenges in this endeavor.

In this session, participants will gain a personal understanding of the importance of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and its powerful impact on student learning. Participants will leave with a professional development outline to uncover barriers that stifle the successful implementation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment.

There are a great many resources available to community college students to assist them with basic needs barriers to achievement. These resources include assistance with food insecurity, lack of access to technology, housing and transportation, tutoring, mental health, and more. But when these resources are scattered across a campus and not well marketed so that even the community college employees are unaware of the resources, then how can we expect our students to know about and access them. Our college has embarked on a journey to catalog resources, organize and unite the available resources, and develop a marketing and information campaign.

Is college worth it? YES, it is, ALONG with robust, documented technical, and highly proficient professional skills. A comprehensive report in Arizona, Billions to Gain, shows a decline in college attainment, which significantly impacts our citizens’ potential for lifetime earnings, health, and well-being. West-MEC is working with expanded postsecondary pathways with colleges to meet students' need for affordability, stackable credentials, and relevant, multiple entry/exit points, with seamless shifts between learner and worker roles throughout careers. Our goal is to fast-forward our students’ college and career goals, starting with in-demand industry credentials and early college at our CTED, moving to community college for additional certifications and degrees, and culminating with BS and MA degrees. At West-MEC, our college attainment is growing and, in this session, we are sharing strategies for success. Join us!

The workshop will introduce participants to a drone project funded by the National Science Foundation (#2213919) as an intervention to encourage more non-trad (female) students to pursue CTE-STEM classes in high school. The project is innovative and free. All resources, materials and curriculum will be made available as Open Educational Resources (OERs). The project is designed to introduce all students early - to a STEM career pathway and make clear the ways CTE classes can support a STEM career trajectory. The workshop leaders have experience developing CTE and STEM courses at the middle school and high school levels they will share their experience, equipment recommendations, resources, and experience of educators currently using drones in STEM and CTE classes.

In this session, learn how to use mobile app development as the foundation for problem-based learning and the importance of focusing on it through a global citizenship lens. Participants will learn how to create their own mobile app, analyze project-based learning examples and collaborate on ways to pair mobile app development with their current curriculum as a PBL-tool to bring awareness and solutions to the global community.

How do we provide every student with the skills necessary for WBL in a comprehensive high school setting? We were intentional about the need for all classrooms to use a common language and expectations around skills needed to become productive citizens - employability skills. With deliberate and clearly defined standards, we designed a course ALL students are required to take their freshman year, introducing them to a career portfolio (using CareerPrepped) they would own and be able to produce upon graduation. It could be used in interviews for jobs, college applications, and with recruiters. Students would have evidence of learning in all areas of employability, gaining badges to show their completion. In their freshman year, through My Future and Career Success class, all students are introduced to the concept of employability skills, and how they are transferable to all areas of life - not simply for work. The skills are then embedded into all classrooms, so it is not simply skills in one class for one year, rather it is referenced within the school community throughout their four years. Students receive an endorsement on their transcript showing they have completed all steps of a pathway preparing them for their future.

With school districts expanding CTE programs across the nation, the shortage of qualified teachers impedes ensuring our students have access to those viable and career-ready pathways, especially in new and industrial technologies such as solar and advanced manufacturing. The Instructors Apprenticeship for Advanced Manufacturing is an innovative professional development program that trains and supports CTE educators in developing their technical, cultural, and pedagogical competencies. Through partnerships with the National Institute of Metalworking Skills and Manufacturing Renaissance, the Instructors Apprenticeship for Advanced Manufacturing has developed a unique community of manufacturers, youth, schools, social services, labor, and communities to grow inclusive manufacturing ecosystems that can build thriving communities which all begins with high-quality career and technical education programming. In this session, participants will review how the Instructors Apprenticeship nullified the CTE teacher shortage in the area of advanced manufacturing from practice to policy-making in Chicago, Illinois.

Industry-specific, dual-credit, career pathway education models should be available, accessible, and high quality, and provide students with the opportunity to earn shorter-term credentials with clear labor market value. Participants will be provided with tools to identify quality, stackable credentials and how to incorporate them into a youth or pre-apprenticeship program.

Greenways CTE Academy’s high school students participate in 8 CTE course pathways that work in sequence towards industry certifications. All pathways support high demand career tracks and prepare high school students to become employable post graduation. Several options are helping students receive industry certifications after their first year in the program. Many of these pathways provide students with virtual internship options where they utilize simulated work environments that give them hands-on skills in a variety of company divisions in each career track (sales, marketing, operations, staffing etc). Greenways CTE Academy's pathway programs provide students flexible options to do their school coursework, which is fully online and includes built-in accessibility features to support all types of learners.

True integration across K through 12 education is difficult, and educators striving for this may feel defeated before they begin the quest. Come learn how one district slayed the dragon of siloed learning and embraced K through 12 entrepreneurship, creating an environment that fosters creativity, innovation, and risk-taking. This session will 1. Provide a framework and design for a successful program; 2. Highlight easily mimicable successes; 3. Share failures and challenges along the way; 4. Give examples of how to access student learning; and 5. Give examples of how students across the district and grade levels collaborate on learning experiences. By the end of the session, participants will have gained practical insights and strategies for integrating entrepreneurship education across their K through 12 district.

Step into the transformative realm of technical education in this session, "Experience the Power of Technical Education: Energizing Faculty Development!" We introduce a cutting-edge faculty development program designed to marry deep industry knowledge with effective teaching practices. Aimed at empowering professionals transitioning from a broad range of technical fields into the classroom, our approach equips them with pivotal skills such as lesson planning, curriculum development, classroom management, and instructional best practices. This program, aligned with an equity lens framework, the ACTE High Quality CTE Framework, and the Council on Occupational Education standards, exemplifies the true power of technical education. We will also delve into strategies to navigate potential challenges to the program's implementation, ensuring longevity and impact. Participants will leave with a physical token of this innovative venture, destined to inspire change within their own institutions.

As part of the 2023 NextLevel Post-Secondary Leadership Fellowship, Kari has developed the Make it Better Plan to address the lack of clear pathways for students completing business certificate programs at Utah's technical colleges who aspire to pursue degree programs. Currently, technical education business certificates face limited recognition by higher education institutions offering business degrees, leading to restricted options for students. In her presentation, Kari will explore the need for educational pathways and how her institution is meeting that need. Kari's action plan builds upon a statewide initiative that successfully aligned business certificate training programs across Utah. Leveraging this alignment, two associate business degrees that stack upon the certificates will be created, providing students with clear pathways toward various bachelor's degrees. The plan also includes establishing formal articulation agreements to ensure students receive credit for their prior learning. The next critical step of the plan is an impactful marketing campaign targeting stakeholders, including students, parents, and academic advisors, with a specific focus on supporting underserved populations in the Southeast region of Utah. Raising awareness about the available pathways is crucial to enable students to seize these opportunities. While Kari focused on business pathways in Utah, she is excited to share her successes and lessons learned with anyone interested in creating similar pathways at their own institutions.

Come hear about a great program, Plazas Comunitarias, which helps Spanish speakers who are older than 16 years of age to complete their elementary and secondary education. Plazas is hosted by the Mexican Consulate and is free to implement. Come learn about how your students may benefit this free program.

Current and prospective students who have identified a career pathway may engage with the community college on either the credit or non-credit side, but rarely both. This leads to confusion about the training and education options available as well as the funding available, from Federal Financial Aid, employer support, or other state funding. Often, the continuum of programs is managed by different divisions and policies at institutions. This leads to confusion about 1) what programs are available; 2) what occupations or jobs are associated with the programs; 3) what the financial investment/costs are for the program; 4) what credentials are related to these programs; and 5) how the programs articulate or stack into multiple credentials. This session will address the challenges of credit and non-credit collaboration and the opportunity to build strong partnerships through communication, consensus building, and a shared vision.

We hear it all the time from our industry partners, “Train them to be good employees and we can take it from there!” We often focus on job skills and industry knowledge when preparing students for careers, but we don’t always intentionally focus on the skills that help them keep the job.Join us as we discuss our school’s journey to adopt a common set of work ethic standards across our campus that will not only help our students keep the job, but help them to thrive in their careers.

Perkins V accountability standards promote the improvement of students’ academic and technical skills. Research indicates that integrating math, literacy, and science in CTE curriculum helps students develop skills needed to be successful. Join us in this highly engaging session to learn how to bridge the gap between CTE and the academic world using the Making Schools Work 10 Key Practices for Technology Centers. We will fill your wallet with resources and knowledge to challenge your students as they connect the dots between academia and CTE.

As Work Based Learning initiatives develop and become an integral part of the CTE experience, districts must find new solutions to meet the needs of their students and local workforce. With these new initiatives, it is more important than ever to find solutions which involve both the academic classrooms, CTE classrooms, and community stakeholders. The demand to meet WBL is daunting, but can be made more manageable when the academic classroom becomes a place where WBL opportunities come to life through entrepreneurship projects. Creating partnerships with local entrepreneurs while they are developing businesses gives students hands-on experience in developing and executing business ideas, allowing them to apply classroom learning in a real-world context. Join us to take a close look at ways that Butler Tech is leveraging their academic classrooms to support and lift the demands placed on the CTE instructors and create connections between students, entrepreneurship, and the local workforce. Attendees will leave armed with classroom model studies, lesson plans for all academic subjects, and fresh resources to share with their own staff.

Participants will learn how we partnered with over 75 businesses to prepare students with knowledge about postsecondary education and career opportunities. Learn how a large school district pulled off a Work-Based Learning Expo and Conference with over 900 Work-Based Learning students, an etiquette luncheon, teambuilding exercises, twenty first century technology tools, and a competitive event that have students motivated to focus on their future and plan their next steps after high school during their senior year.

In this session we will focus on the benefits, struggles, and main reasons to reach out to your local and state government to engage these institutions in your district's work based learning program. In this session we will look at the ways to reach out to these two government organizations as well as some of the challenges that you might find. We will discuss the overall benefits of these relationships your school can build with your state and local government. This session will also hit on involving, building and growing your local and state communities. These are communities that help to support your schools Work Based Learning program and also find a way to include your community in the Work Based Learning surface.

This presentation will demonstrate how to maximize career readiness for students through work-based learning by leveraging local businesses. Attendees will learn about the benefits of partnering with local businesses for profession-based learning, how to provide students with hands-on experience, industry-specific skills, and professional networking opportunities. Specific examples will illustrate successful partnerships and strategies for identifying and approaching potential partners. The presentation will also cover how to align profession-based learning with industry needs and standards. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a planning session, where they will discuss and create a plan for implementing the information presented in their own classrooms or buildings. Finally, there will be a Q&A session where attendees can ask questions and address any concerns. By the end of the presentation, attendees will have a better understanding of how to implement profession-based learning with local businesses and resources for next steps.

Did you know that growth in Arizona DEPENDS on heavy construction and 41,000 jobs depend upon carpentry alone!! Or that there will be a need to fill 265,000 construction jobs in Arizona by the end of 2024!! There is no doubt that educators and industry leaders believe student participation in career development and exploration activities is critical to build the future pipeline of skilled workers. In this presentation, participants will learn how to engage with industry efforts to grow construction programs to meet future workforce demands. Learn what construction companies are doing to create a sustainable and skilled craft workforce in Arizona through awareness efforts regarding high paying construction careers, training opportunities, school partnerships, and mapping career paths to employment in these high demand occupations. Hear innovative ideas on how educators can partner with employers to deliver meaningful and robust classroom activities and real-world, hands-on projects. This framework can be implemented across industries!

Is your facility safety plan prepared to respond to an external event? If communication is not both a critical component and something that is reviewed and practiced intentionally you are at risk. Fortunately for the UA Tech Park outside of Tucson, their safety plan had both and Clinton Pearson onsite when a truck carrying liquid nitric acid crashed on I-10, 1.5 miles away. The resulting chemical leak closed I-10, caused evacuations and shelter-in-place orders, and shutdown power. This session will describe the policies and practices that were in place prior to the event, especially the ongoing training to ensure personnel stay at readiness level. It will also break down the key role communication played in responding as over 1600 people from 20 companies were first sheltered in place and then evacuated and the facility was secured. Clinton was recognized by management for being a conduit and facilitator of information with site program managers, corporate and regional safety organizations, as well as local law enforcement. Strategies for integrating safety plan communication into curriculum will be shared. Anyone who has a role in campus safety or who teaches students who will assume safety roles in the workplace should not miss this session!

Do you feel satisfied, fulfilled, and energized by your work? As professionals, we’ve adapted to be able to do many things, and do them well. And sometimes that work leaves us drained, frustrated, and burnt out. But why? What would it take to have more days that leave us saying, ‘I love my job.’?Whether you’re constantly asking questions, coming up with new ideas, exercising your instincts and intuition, rallying and inspiring others, first in line to help, or adamant about meeting targets and crossing things off the list, you’ll find/see yourself in this session. You’ll see how your geniuses are critical to the success of work. You’ll see how the geniuses of others are complimentary. You’ll see how to build a better team.In this session we’ll overview the 6 types of Working Genius, developed by Patrick Lencioni, whose work has transformed organizations for more than two decades. You’ll leave with tools and resources ready to lean into your geniuses and rethink the way you look at work.

Come hear from the 2023 ACTE Experienced Fellows!

Hear from the 2023 New Professional Fellows!

In this session participants will see how Kansas has faced and overcome challenges in working computer science in as a new academic discipline while managing information technology as a CTE pathway. The two areas share much overlap in terms of content, and the same course may be taught on opposite sides of the high school's hall, one CTE and one a graduation credit. One is often taught tied to rigorous academic standards, while the other is often taught to build and measure career-ready competencies. The Kansas team has encountered those as well as non-content differences in tracking, counting, funding, and supporting courses, however, and also differences in teacher qualification requirements. This session will discuss those lessons learned and help managers plan for future CTE/academic efforts.

This session will provide teachers with an opportunity to learn how to help their students and their parents find scholarship and internship opportunities that can lead to successful long-term STEAM careers. As a former high school teacher and robotics coach I enjoyed working with my students and their parents to secure college scholarships and internships that have led to STEAM jobs in the aerospace, medical device, automotive, consumer electronics and research industries. I will feature some of our sponsors who we work with including Chevron, Northrop Grumman, and Tesla. I will include success stories from young women who were part of our Girl Powered initiative as well as participants from our other underrepresented initiatives. Working in small groups, the teachers will have time to identify a strategy that can work for their community such as a workshop, drop in session, newsletter. They will also have time to sketch out what one of these can look like using templates and sharing input from the others at their tables.

The co-curricular model of the HSE-HOSA partnership has long been established as an effective strategy to combine CTE and experiential learning for student success. This session will review strategies for how to integrate HOSA concepts into educational lesson plans to enhance classroom success as well as best practices on how to have a top member-led chapter.

In the next 10 years, the available jobs for software developers will grow by 5 times the national average compared to all other professions combined, yet as a society, we are not doing enough to attract more students, particularly women, students with disabilities, students of color, and multilingual students into computer science and its related CTE pathways. Many students take readily to block-based coding in Elementary School to develop the beginnings of computational thinking. However, the majority largely feel unprepared for text-based coding courses in Middle or High School, and when they do attempt them, too many students struggle and drop out of this highly promising career pathway.Come see how to spearhead change on the ground in your school by teaching game design and computational thinking as a way to attract and retain a greater number of students from across the spectrum to your classroom. In this session, we’ll explore the use of hands-on offline pre-coding activities to level the playing field for all students, we’ll share a range of helpful, free and easy-to-use software tools, and we’ll explain how to change the narrative around computer science so that your students view it as creative, empowering, and even fun.

Vocational, industrial and trade schools of the nineteenth century educated the workforce of the Industrial Revolution, today’s industries drive the future of education. More than ever, education is faced with meeting the needs of a technologically advancing economy, where innovations and creativity directly contribute to our ever-changing and fast-paced world. A common goal in engineering and design solutions is to ensure safety, effectiveness, and ease of use while reducing error and influencing behavior. Human Factors & Ergonomics (HF/E) is the method used to analyze existing systems and solutions to create new experiences, products, services, and systems. Today, most HF/E education programs are offered, beginning at the college and graduate levels. In fact, evidence strongly correlates career preparation in high school as a highly valuable and influential time in a young student’s life. Launched in 2021, the vocational high school Human Factors Engineering (HFE) course has added valuable practical hands-on project-based and user-centered design experiences with authentic real-world applications aligning with 21st-century STEM initiatives. This workshop will discuss, the value of a HFE course to K-12 education and how it adapted HF/E to other vocational high school curriculum environments. Workshop activities will reinforce hands-on analysis, redesign and decision making methods.

As additive manufacturing (3D printing), engineering teachers have an opportunity to engage their students with an entrepreneurial approach to the design process. The SHARK TANK presentation will show teachers how to integrate engineering and entrepreneurship in the classroom. Emphasis will be given to how this activity can support your CTSO and also integration with your advisory board and local chamber of commerce members.

Great hands-on lessons that cover concepts and components of the steps of neural and vertebral development from a fertilized egg to an embryo. This workshop helps instructors to convert difficult material into easy lessons that help students understand how early the nervous system develops and how to relate it what they have learned about their own nervous systems. We will also look at how the stages of embryo development can be influenced by nutrition, pre-natal care, and common disorders.

Inequality and underrepresentation of people from historically marginalized communities remains stubbornly persistent in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Health [STEM-H] fields. In this session, learn how the Rush Education and Career Hub [REACH] seeks to increase and broaden STEM-H participation for underrepresented youth cradle-to-career by employing a theory of change that substantially aligns to ACTE Quality CTE Program of Study Framework. During this session, participants will learn how REACH provides middle school students with engaging STEM learning and activities, while introducing them to health care careers and the post-secondary educational paths that lead to those jobs through in- and out-of-school time programming. Vitals for STEM Success is an after-school program for highly motivated middle school students who are interested in STEM or health care careers. Future Ready Learning Lab is an enrichment elective incorporated into the school day at select Chicago Public schools. Preliminary program evaluation outcomes relating to occupational identity formation, specifically—demonstration of increased understanding of STEM-H careers, high school readiness and perceived value of the program will be discussed. Participants will receive promising practices for creating student-centered, community-engaged learning environments built on academic enrichment, career exploration, and the most effective evidence-based teaching, learning, and assessment strategies.

With the rapid speed of the modern workplace, current technical skills taught in education won’t always keep up with industry demand. The workplace is changing rapidly with new technologies like AI, VR and AR. The world of work is evolving in how we communicate, problem solve and automate across many industry sectors. Join stakeholders, administrators and educators to learn how we can develop an adaptable workforce of lifelong learners, utilizing a combination of durable skills, technical skills, and experiential career learning opportunities. See how integrating these skills in-class, supplemented with real-work opportunities like mentorships, partner collaborations and postsecondary alignment, can create a flexible and ready workforce. In addition, several opportunity models and frameworks will be shared and discussed.

My presentation centers on the emotional maturity of students enrolled in a secondary nursing program. There are only two of these programs remaining in New York State. During recent accreditation visits the questions have been posed whether adolescents have the emotional maturity to take on the role of " Nurse" . Attendees will learn: 1.Describe ways to gauge the emotional maturity of adolescents enrolled in a CTE nursing program. 2.Recognize techniques to assist secondary nursing students in the development of empathy. 3. Formulate strategies to introduce sensitive topics related to diversity and acceptance to secondary nursing students. 4. Support secondary nursing students to begin to think like adults through guided experiential learning,

Created by the National Consortium for Health Science Education (NCHSE), 60 Health Careers in 60 Minutes provides attendees with materials to highlight the many career choices available in healthcare. Resources include free posters as well as websites and information on the education requirements, salaries, and employment outlook for a wide variety of health careers. Let’s impact the healthcare workforce shortages and build awareness by reaching students early. This session is designed to equip teachers, administrators, and career counselors as they encourage students to consider health science pathways. What a powerful opportunity; providing guidance to students about their future careers and possibly the next generation of health professionals!

We know that having work-based experiences enhances CTE instruction, but are all of our students able to receive quality experiences? This session discusses the importance of developing a continuum of experiential learning that provides access to all students. We will share the benefits and challenges of building a system with industry partners and share strategies to ensure that students are connected to experiences that extend past graduation.

The group of muscles called the rotator cuff stabilize the shoulder and are very active in the movements of the arm. Rotator cuff injuries affect people of all ages, with injuries in young people often resulting from overuse during tennis, softball, volleyball, and baseball. In older individuals, the rate of injuries increases due to continued overuse, trauma, and degeneration.Session attendees will be fully immersed in a hands-on teaching method that brings the intricacies of human anatomy to life in the classroom. Using rigid skeletons and modeling clay, participants will be engaged in the construction of the four rotator cuff muscles, identification of rotator cuff dysfunction, as well as discussion of the methods of repair. This three dimensional teaching method introduces STEAM into the anatomy classroom and increases student interest and understanding of what has become an all too familiar problem for Americans.

Intercultural competence is the knowledge of intercultural skills and competencies needed for communicating with cultures in knowledge economies within worldwide organizational structures in today’s workplace. The ability to understand and adapt to cultural differences requires new behaviors through intercultural competence to understand and adapt behaviors to different cultural norms. A Global Competence Model is needed in the workplace to develop intercultural capability, collaboration, and communication skills through the development of self-awareness, open-mindedness, and attention to diversity across cultures. The workshop will end by showing teachers how to incorporate intercultural competence into their classrooms. Additionally, group activities and handouts will also be part of this presentation.

This session introduces an interactive career map tool that identifies career roles in Health Information, associated credentials, and workforce demand. Participants will learn about various job roles and career pathways in health information, as well as industry recognized stackable micro credentials and certifications. Faculty and advisors will learn about career exploration tools, student-based activities, and resources for supporting student planning for future roles in health information.

We will showcase a successful district wide program encouraging female students to explore male-dominated career fields in natural resources. Participants will learn the steps taken to implement the program, the partnerships created, lessons learned, and engage in a demonstration of the program curriculum.

"Get with the times!" Learn moderns trends and gather recommendations on how to create a favorable classroom environment by building equity and inclusion. Gain tools on how to increase engagement with hands on skills, differentiation tactics and review games. No animals? No problem! Acquire knowledge on how to communicate with community stakeholders to increase student engagement.

Join NCHSE to learn about supportive measures we can provide as the national authority for health science education. Strategies and resources available to make your program standout include: 1) Networking and collaboration, 2) Career development, 3) a Health science framework, 4) Standards for quality, and 5) Education for future health professionals. Learn how to incorporate these essential components of a high-quality health science education program into your program and effectively prepare students to become the next generation of health professionals.

This session will offer practical, easy and meaningful discussion formats you can use in your CTE classroom to help students become more comfortable, composed and poised public speakers. It is said that 75% of people have a fear of public speaking. Don’t ignore speaking practices simply because students fear it.

In this presentation I will discuss the Cosmetology program at the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center. This is a 1250 hour cosmetology program that also offers limited licensing options to students. This center provides a program for secondary students as well as postsecondary students. Limited license instruction, clinical hours, state task list, Google classroom, NOCTI testing, state board testing and practice testing will be discussed. An open discussion with questions and participation from the audience will be encouraged.

Advance CTE embarked on an analysis of states’ secondary Career Technical Education (CTE) funding models from fiscal year 2022. In this session, Advance CTE staff will provide an overview about secondary CTE funding models across all states and the District of Columbia and showcase a microsite website resource designed to serve as a “one-stop shop” for those interested in conducting state-by-state comparisons. Advance CTE staff will share some examples of how states have designed elements of their funding models to address CTE program quality, equitable funding across districts and access to and completion of certain CTE courses or programs of study. Advance CTE staff will also offer recommendations on how state leaders and administrators can work together to support high-quality CTE by positioning the field to revise and implement more equitable funding models. Attendees will receive a copy of the project’s executive summary.

District and school level teams are often in search of effective strategies to align practices to results, especially those that connect tier levels to overall academic, college and career preparation goals. Come and learn how to keep student success at the forefront of improvement efforts by exploring the Powerful Student Support Practices (PSSPs), a comprehensive set of success behaviors and artifacts for students, teachers, counselors, and administrators that will empower all faculty, staff, and students to win. When implemented with fidelity, the practices build students’ self-confidence and esteem and increase academic success and career readiness.

As our world becomes increasingly digital, it is crucial to prepare students for the changing job market. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field used in a range of industries, making it essential for Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms to embrace this technology. This presentation explores the benefits of AI in CTE classrooms, including providing students with simulated environments for real-world experience and personalized learning through individualized feedback. Hands-on experience with AI can also prepare students for future careers in high-demand areas and provide a deeper understanding of complex concepts. By embracing AI in CTE classrooms, students can gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in an ever-changing job market.

"Building Bridges: Fostering Effective Collaboration Between K12, Community Colleges, and Industry" will explore the crucial role of collaboration between these three entities. Attendees will learn about successful partnerships and best practices that have emerged from such collaborations, including improved student outcomes and the development of a skilled workforce.The presentation will emphasize the importance of K12 and community college collaboration with industry in meeting the workforce's needs and creating pathways to success for students. The benefits of such collaborations for education and industry will be highlighted. Common challenges in collaboration, such as differences in culture, communication, and priorities, will be addressed. Strategies for overcoming these challenges and building effective partnerships will be shared, providing attendees with practical insights.Overall, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of collaboration between K12, community colleges, and industry, as well as practical strategies for building effective partnerships that can benefit all involved and create positive outcomes for students and the workforce.

Dr. Aaron Parsons and Dr. Dana King will guide a discussion on student resiliency that continues their 2022 Vision Presentation. More strategies to increase resiliency will be discussed as well as a deeper dive into strategies to assist you in your classroom.

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a powerful tool to create engaging learning environments for students that also support students to develop college, career, and life skills. Attend this session to learn how to enhance your PBL units using a career-focused launch and scenario. We will explore how occupational titles and expectations are used within SREB’s middle and high school PBL units to engage students and support the development of critical skills and competencies. Participants will also learn about PBL design aspects using SREB’s Powerful PBL Practices

The ability to regulate student emotions and our own creates a positive learning environment for all. Self-care and positive thinking can only take a person so far in a world that is becoming more digital and less human every single day. Dive into the 5Fs of trauma responsive care and learn how to use breathing techniques, classroom activities, and one on one connection to help everyone re-engage in the classroom and beyond.

Teachers and administrators are often faced with the dilemma of how to help students learn how to dialogue without adding unnecessary controversy to the situation. It is essential in the professional world that respectful dialogue can occur and K-12 classrooms are a perfect place for students to learn how to have civil discourse in order to promote a greater understanding of opposing viewpoints. Classroom teachers play a vital role in helping develop the skills required to effectively communicate, this session will focus on tools and protocols to support that learning.

How many times have you had a brilliant idea for a classroom project but then realized that you don't have the funding to make it happen? You either had to pay out of your own pocket or regrettably postpone the project indefinitely. This was the same dilemma that National Magnet Teacher of the Year Matthew Waynee faced for years, until six years ago when he decided to write some grants to try to fund his projects. Since then, he has won over $2,200,000 for his students and film department! Join him for this hands-on workshop on the steps to start writing your own grant proposals. Learn about the fundamentals of grant writing, how to make your application stand out, and resources on finding grants.

The future of communication is visual. When we open up opportunities for students to express themselves and demonstrate learning in creative and collaborative ways, we empower them to own the learning. In this session you will come away with a plethora of ideas to unleash student creativity & collaboration in your Career & Technical Education classroom. Explore a variety of templates that can be used in the career clusters. Also, explore special features such as drawing, collaborative activities, video creation, presentation features, and more! The possibilities for empowered learning in Career & Technical Education is endless with Canva for education!

The CTE Research Network has launched six training modules to help you become research-savvy. These free, online courses will strengthen your capacity to use and conduct CTE research. Topics include using data for program improvement, for equity, and communicating about your program using research. Join us to learn more!

AI-writing tools like Chat-GPT have exploded onto the scene. It's now easier than ever to have a machine write anything for you -- an email, an essay, a resume and so much more. But if a machine does the work, where is the human touch? More to the point, how do CTE professionals ensure students maintain an authentic voice as they pursue college and career opportunities? The answer is a commitment to simple communication techniques that make every student's work distinct, customized and unforgettable. Join Danny Rubin, founder of Rubin, for a can't-miss session on the best way forward in a landscape forever changed by Chat-GPT. We will discuss how to personalize tasks like professional emails, thank-you notes, resumes, cover letters and more. Head back to school with the knowledge that, no matter how or when AI impacts the learning process, you are ready to help your students shine.

Do you believe that mental health issues and social media are intertwined in creating some form of chaos in your school? At the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, the teachers and administrators have developed a defined strategy to combat the negative social and emotional stressors in the students’ lives. Through a professional development program surveying the effects that the COVID Pandemic and social media has had on our students’ lives; the school’s staff has created a plan to help students become reality-based thinkers who can tackle the consequences of overdone media coverage and social media itself. The school believes that this reality-based thinking will lead students to recognize that too much information without reliable support may be harmful to their mental health and well-being. This session will share with participants how the school arrived at its strategy and how the school is implementing the strategy for all students in all program areas.

Case study of sector partnerships. Participants will learn how a technology company solved a skills and confidence gap problem by building a diverse future workforce pipeline with the largest school district in the country. Hear about the strategies used by the school district/company partnership to build this pipeline utilizing in-demand skills curricula, career-connected programs, work-based learning, mentoring programs and sector partnerships. Successful outcomes and the blueprint for this comprehensive program will be shared with the audience.

For career and technical education to advance, we must have strong leaders at the local, state and national level. Typically CTE educators have been taught how to be skillful teachers but have not received such training on how to be a leader. Most educators are familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. There is a similar hierarchy of leadership skills. Yet. many CTE teachers have not been exposed to this Leadership Pyramid.I have been fortunate to have served as the national president of the Association for Career and Technical Education, the American Vocational Education Research Association, and the American Association for Agricultural Education. I have not sought out these positions. Nominating committees and colleagues have encouraged me to allow my name to be placed on the ballot. I have often been asked the secret to being an effective leader. In reality, there is no secret. However, there are certain traits or characteristics of effective leaders. In this workshop we will learn about the levels of the leadership pyramid and examine real world CTE examples associated with each level. Each level of the Leadership Pyramid starts with the letter “C” but charisma is not one of them.

We will be looking at how CTE and STEM are connected and how to connect educational pathways to be able to incorporate STEM concepts into different pathways. We will focus on ways to use the Engineering Design Process to create concept maps to multiple career pathways and career exploration opportunities. This will be a hands on learning and interactive session that allows participates to be able to leave with a concept map to use in their own classrooms to connect their pathway with STEM concepts.

A proven partnership that focuses on developing the next generation of Healthcare Professionals. Tactics and strategies of how classroom didactics were enhanced with real-world experiences to optimize educational experiences. Sharing “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” in navigating the partnership during the post-pandemic storm and how new paradigms were created. We hope to inspire CTE teachers and employers to use our model and adapt it to either forming new partnerships or expanding current partnerships to meet the ever changing needs of students.

Even though the teaching literature advocates small group work I hated it. Certainly the students would benefit more from listening to me than wasting their time working in small groups. However, after receiving mediocre course evaluations for the computer applications course for the second semester in a row, I determined that something must change. I was also frustrated with having to individually work with multiple students to help them understand concepts I had covered 30 minutes earlier.I completely revamped the course to utilize a student team approach (i.e. small groups). I scoured the literature to glean ideas on how to make teams work while holding each student accountable for their contribution to team projects. The student teams assumed the identify of a business of their choosing. Then each team started a series of computer related projects. During the semester the students also learned about team dynamics and how to handle team conflicts. The team products were far superior to the past individual projects. And the course evaluation rose by more than one point on a five point scale. In this presentation attendees will learn how to effectively utilize team based learning in their classrooms no matter what they teach.

The heart of any CTSO is the program of work or what your chapter is going to do. It is the activities and projects—the plan of action—that your chapter will carry out during the school year. Chapter activities will provide some of the best opportunities CTSO members will have to learn by doing. A successful program of work creates a positive learning atmosphere in the classroom. CTSO members learn how to accept responsibility, work as a team, manage a budget, and handle success and failure.This session will focus on six pillars of a well-rounded CTSO Program of Work. Attendees will come away with Program of Work resources to assist their chapter leaders in forming a Program of Work

In this session, attendees will learn about aligning curriculum standards to CTSO activities, programs, and competitions and several strategies to immediately implement in your classroom at any level.

It is no secret that one of the many responsibilities of a trade association is generating a pipeline of trained technicians and creating opportunities to bring those individuals and their employer membership together. In our current climate in which every industry is fighting for skilled workers, this can be no small feat. How does a trade association ensure that the technicians they are providing to their membership have the skill set to hit the ground running? Nocti Business Solutions (NBS) works with many trade associations to create fully validated assessments to test the skills and knowledge necessary to certify skilled workers to ensure quality employees for their employer members. Learn how these tests along with other services benefit memberships from two NBS partner trade associations.

Research shows that more employers are shifting their hiring practices to prioritize skills over educational attainment and work history, opening access to opportunity for those who can showcase their skills necessary to be successful in the role. In this session, attendees will learn more about this shift toward "skills-based hiring" and how they can empower their students to succeed in the skills-based economy. Participants will leave the session with the knowledge and materials necessary to support students in documenting and proving, through evidence, their skill attainment. Utilizing FREE software, students can capture, prove and showcase their skills to employers even after they graduate, all while connecting to real-world career opportunities.

Are you ready to create truly equitable collaborations between your school and stakeholders? Do you feel the desire to be a change agent, but you're not sure how to foster meaningful change at your school or in your classroom? If so, this presentation is for you! In this session, participants will walk through Rosa Rivera-McCutcheon’s framework for change as described in her book, “Radical Care”, and discuss how to apply that to their school or classroom. Rivera-McCutcheon’s framework helps us look at current practices through a critical lens that will help us: discuss what it means to be an antiracist school professional; analyze conditions for cultivating authentic relationships between a school and its stakeholders; describe what it means to believe in students’ and teachers’ capacity for excellence; examine methods used to strategically leverage power in order to see families as change agents and co-designers in the school; and share what it means to have a sense of “radical hope” about our ability to accomplish these important tasks.

If the acronym of IAED is unfamiliar or you want to further your personal and professional journey in regard to Inclusion, Access, Equity, and Diversity, join us to learn about the ACTE IAED Mentorship Program.

This session is designed to help educators Identify gaps in English Learner (EL)/ Multilingual Learner (ML) enrollment in CTE programs, understand why CTE benefits EL/ML students, identify ways to increase enrollment, and identify ways to support EL/ML students in the classroom.

The presentation will be information about best practices of inclusion in CTE and immerse participants in basic strategies that can be used in any classroom on syllabus day.

The vast majority of children and youth will be exposed to at least one potentially traumatic event before graduating from high school. Educators play a critical role in addressing child trauma by recognizing the effects of trauma on students and families while responding in a way that fosters healing and resilience. This presentation is designed to help all school staff understand what trauma is, the rates and types of trauma youth may face, the effects of trauma on youth, and what this means for educators and schools.

Students who participate in CTE are more likely to succeed academically and less likely to drop out of high school than their counterparts who do not. Educators need to provide equity in and access to these programs for all students. Once students are enrolled, teachers must have the resources to respond effectively to their diverse needs. To do this, teachers need to have information to gain understanding and develop strategies appropriate to the various student populations. Attendees will learn about various resources available to teachers on how to address the individual learners in their classrooms, expand their understanding, and make real changes that will impact not only the Special Populations, but all of their students.

Do you often wonder how to reach the students in your classroom with disabilities? Would you like to build your toolbox of research-based strategies when working with your special education students? Do you wish you could understand more about the disability behind the student in your classroom?CTE programs are amazing places for students with disabilities. Join us as we dive into an overview of disability categories. Then we will model and share important hands-on strategies to connect with all of your students in your CTE classroom to provide the needed opportunities for student success.

Have you noticed an increase in pet therapy/facility dogs in your home school organizations? Have you wondered how to start a pet therapy/facility dogs’ program for your facility? In this presentation we will discuss options/considerations regarding the role of therapy/facility dogs in a career tech environment. Puppy Love: stress reliever for students/staff.In this presentation we will discuss options for starting or expanding a therapy dog program through community resources and ideas for your own facility dog. How a teacher's passion for pet therapy has evolved into a senior capstone class and a building wide non-threatening area for students and staff to "breath" and relive stress. Benefits include meeting students who are not in my programs, avenue to promote our programs to visitors, and build relationships. Especially post COVID, request for therapy animals are growing in all workforce and education arenas. How are ways to bring positive support to your students and faculty with not adding to the budget.

Join us as we share our journey of individual and systemic assessment regarding the state of our career center in terms of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). We took an introspective look at EDI and saw the ripples of compassion, understanding, learning, and sharing ebb out from ourselves into our classroom culture, career center, schools and communities. Sparked by compassion and empathy for the marginalized students in our programs we stepped forward with the hopes of discovering where change is needed and to find ways to inspire that change. Learn from our experiences, see how our circle of three grew through reaching out and collaboration. We will share with you our journey, and our struggles. We will share some tools, techniques, data collected and stories from the people who have joined us along the way.As the ripples of a pebble radiate outward, our desire has been to create motivation and change in ourselves and to have that ripple out through our spheres of influence. Hear how we witnessed our own spheres grow and how we guided and inspired others to look inside themselves and drop their own pebble.You can do this, we know, because we are.

Skills development for employment is critically important for countries with an age dividend otherwise disenchanted youth will put their energies into less productive activities. This presentation highlights successful strategies recommended by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) and exemplified in their TVET projects in Malawi and Bangladesh respectively. From skills development policy and needs demand studies, to curriculum reform and instructor training, to introduction of competency-based training, and strategies for reaching disenfranchised persons, this presentation will use pictures and other media to share examples of international best practice. There will be a particular focus on increasing the number of women in non-traditional trades and engaging with persons who have physical challenges.

This presentation will highlight the foundations and ideals of Epsilon Pi Tau, The International Honor Society for Professions in Technology (EPT). Founded in 1929 during the Technical Vocational Education and Training boom, EPT encourages academic excellence of students in fields devoted to the general study of technology and the preparation of practitioners for the technology professions. Additionally, EPT recognizes and advances the work of faculty and administrative leaders in higher education academic fields and programs for the general study of technology and programs devoted to career preparation for specific fields in the technology professions. The bold 94-year history of the Honor Society has seen more than 130 Chapters chartered around the world. The Alpha Field Chapter in Los Angeles, California, designs, manufactures, finishes and delivers simple wooden pull toys to underprivileged youths in south central Los Angeles. These toys are durable and don’t require any batteries or special skills. Over the years, the project has expanded, and the toys are now shipped to underserved communities in Uganda and South Africa. These toys have brightened the days of countless children without need for language translation or modern technology. The promotion of and recognition of excellence is a universal that is not bounded by language or geography. EPT connections between Iowa State University and Makerere University in Uganda helped provide food and nutrition training and support underserved communities in Uganda. This program trained members of the local community in more efficient and effective methods of agriculture. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the nature of Honor Societies in a global sense along with specifics of how programs and like-minded individuals are connected by a worldwide network facilitated by EPT.

Back in my day… okay, Boomer… one generation believes another has it easier than theirs. Depending on what generation you claim, this can generate pride or stoke resentment. Staff of any generation will enjoy a passionate discussion between four panelists representing four generations (Boomers, X, Millennials, and Z) as they explain, debate, and compare definitions of the ideal work ethic, what they are looking for in an employee, and strategies they use to navigate this charged topic.

A four step process focused on creating awareness, exploring opportunities, workforce preparation, and growing work based learning (WBL) experiences in your district. Connect students, teachers, guardians, and industry partners by utilizing the strategic planning process to involve key stakeholders in leading a district wide career experience initiative. Outline of how to leverage county resources and grants to bring innovative CTE experiences into the classroom that allow students to earn industry recognized stackable credentials for both college bound and workforce ready students. Selection of educational technology tools that can help track College and Career Readiness Indicators (CCRI) and visualize career pathways with a goal of improving post secondary outcomes. Display a roadmap of multidistrict collaboration focused on creating equitable access to work based learning opportunities that ensure every student graduates with a purpose.

Preparing students for information and communication technology (ICT) careers is a global challenge. Additionally, there is widespread recognition that Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) should be more responsive to labor market needs and prioritize employment for graduates. Internships are a proven strategy to improve ICT program outcomes (e.g., decreased time to completion, increased employment, professional socialization) and provide an opportunity for students to learn professional skills that are not typically taught during classroom instruction. Internships are likewise beneficial for employer partners, who can expand their recruitment pathways through strong relationships with nearby educational institutions.While these benefits are well-documented, the role of internship supervisors in student outcomes are less well-studied. To address this gap, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) implemented a sustained professional learning program for IT internship supervisors with partner Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS). During this program, supervisors received 16 hours of sustained training prior to hosting their interns over the summer. This presentation will focus on how student outcomes changed as a result of this intervention, and will provide generalizable strategies for other institutions wishing to improve internship outcomes.

Learn how Imperial Valley ROP Career Specialists support local CTE programs by developing and facilitating activities and experiences that support the Work-Based Learning Continuum. During this session, you will learn about the Career Specialist position within our organization that supports partner high school and middle school districts navigate through the WBL Continuum. Our Career Specialist team coordinates and implements regional and school-based WBL experiences that help grow and support high-quality CTE pathways. This session will provide insight on the various types of activities we plan and coordinate, as well as how we leverage industry partners and community resources to carry them out. We will hear firsthand from one of our partner districts about the impact a Career Specialist has in their school. Participants will leave with resources and tools to be able to implement some of these meaningful activities in their schools and districts.

Join this team of Butler Tech Transition-to-Work Specialists as they provide information about a successful Job Training Coordination program that has expanded access to SWD’s by providing technical, on the job training to students with disabilities requiring intensive, individualized supports. Project LIFE continues to raise learning and community expectations that lead to an integrated community employment rate that far exceeds national averages. Project LIFE was developed in 2007 by a team of Butler Tech special educators, transition to work specialists, administrators and community stakeholders. Using research-based practices, Project LIFE provides student participants with the opportunity to gain a variety of employment skills through a combination of authentic work-based learning experiences. Authentic job training experiences are then combined with a specialized curriculum focusing on 21st Century Workplace Readiness skills, and learning standards proven to increase financial, communication, and micro-enterprise fundamentals while promoting growth leading to more independence at work, home and community environments. This session will provide the opportunity for participants to explore a framework of programming strategies and curriculum concepts related to supporting this population of students.

Tired of teaching the same initial safety over and over? What if you had brand new industry-certified engaging online training with tests attached and an automated system to email you when students finish it? Free?• Checkup on transfer students and assign to absent students• Tests and videos in six different languages• Focus on hands-on coverage• Covers 13 woodshop machine and tools• Uniform and engaging safety videos • Made by teachers, for teachers

Only 2% or less of CTSO students see the national competition floor, so what are you doing with the other 98% of them? Attend this session to learn how the CTSO team in Tennessee has structured their department to encourage collaboration between CTSOs, the programming we offer for all CTSOs throughout the year outside of competition, and how we train the trainer (advisor) to be successful with their CTSO chapter at their home school. We do all of this to provide a comprehensive CTSO experience that develops the whole person.

Learn how CTEC in Salem, OR achieved a 99.8% graduation rate and a 92% positive placement rate into high-wage careers, apprenticeships, and college programs through creating a workplace culture on their campus. They will share strategies you can use to teach, assess, and reinforce the professional skills students need for immediate success in the workforce. These professional skills, along with industry certifications and work-based learning experience, move CTEC graduates to the front of the hiring line because local businesses know that these program completers are "Job Ready, Day 1." In additional to powerful professional skills, CTEC students receive a robust academic foundation through an innovative integrated curriculum model. The team will share how their CTE programs of study integrate core subject credits and dual college credits embedded within the content and taught through an industry lens. Attendees will also learn how CTEC interacts and integrates with local industry to operate student-run businesses and provide equitable work-based learning opportunities that prepare their diverse population for success in rewarding careers.

The members of the OkACTE Support Staff Division will share ways on how to increase your state's support staff participation through Professional Development and Leadership opportunities.

This presentation will provide CTE educators with a baseline understanding of the data center industry with an opportunity to discuss data center educational needs with industry representatives and postsecondary professionals. Data centers are large, centralized clusters of computing hardware. As computing continues to move to the cloud, the data center industry is slated to grow significantly over the next decade. This presentation will introduce data center operations as an emerging discipline focusing on the growth patterns of the data center industry, including primary, secondary, and emerging markets in the U.S.; the skills required for technicians; and postsecondary curriculum.

Discover how to effectively use free online tools to create engaging CTE digital and blended instruction. We will go through instructional ed tech tools that have enabled us to build content and engage student learning. You’ll get a start-to-finish build of some engaging online instruction using tools such as Lumi, Canva, and Google Tools.

Students’ postsecondary paths will vary upon graduation from high school. Therefore, early postsecondary options should also vary. See examples of how dual enrollment opportunities at the technical school, community college, and university level can be incorporated into an overall CTE program to personalize the early postsecondary opportunity for students. You’ll also have the opportunity to discuss personalized learning in the CTE classroom.

In small rural schools, only one agriculture teacher, one FCS teacher, one business teacher, one STS teacher and one school counselor exist. So on PLC days, they get lumped together and not enough meaningful work gets done. In our local regional area, we created area Personal Learning communities or PLCs.We now have groups of area agriculture teachers, FCS teachers, business teachers, STS teachers and school counselors that meet quarterly. Each group is guided by the four key questions: What do we want our students to learn? How do we know if they have learned it? What will we do if they don’t learn it? What will we do if they have already learned it? But each group takes their own unique approach to answering their questions. Come and find out how each group formulates their own learning and how one group wrote and received $100,000 in new equipment for their program.

CTE data is primarily collected for accountability and program improvement purposes. Why not use that data to craft a CTE story that interests all your stakeholders and showcases the incredible outcomes of your CTE programs? This session will outline North Carolina’s CTE data reporting and analysis for performance indicators and how state and local results are used to tell our CTE story. Participants will explore various data sources, analysis methods, and visualization tools to uncover a CTE story that is anything but a fairytale.

In this work-based learning program, you will have the opportunity to level up your game by exploring the interplay between competition and collaboration in the workplace. Through real-life scenarios, you will learn how to navigate and succeed in competitive environments while also building strong relationships with your colleagues, region, and state. You will gain insights into the benefits of healthy competition and understand how it can drive innovation and excellence. Additionally, you will discover how teamwork and collaboration can enhance your results when connecting students with industry. This session is perfect for individuals looking to increase their workforce development and career readiness initiatives.

How does the senior leadership team of a Fortune 500 Company impact a high school classroom? In this session, you will see how the employees of the Hershey Company have taken a business classroom to the next level through bi-weekly presentations, site visits, and hands-on activities with the students. Learn how to replicate this model so that students are trained and equipped to create dynamic presentations that will empower them to use their voices to communicate their unique ideas of innovation to a local company in a culminating event. Attendees will leave with a free toolkit of examples and resources to work with companies in your local area to create a meaningful hands-on tailored to your needs and discipline.

This session will focus on the growing impact of the movement toward skills-based systems. From education/training, hiring, and pathways creation and implementation, skills is gaining momentum as a currency in the world of career and education/training. In addition to an overview of where we are today we will also dive into specific tools, resources, and practices that are being developed and implemented by programs, companies, and vendors. Participants will also be asked to engage in conversations around how this might be applicable in their own work and what opportunities and barriers they might encounter offering a forum for group think problem-solving.

The pandemic has caused high schoolers to question the status quo when it comes to their education and career aspirations. This session will provide a deep dive into the inner workings of the minds of Gen Z teens based on data points gathered from six national surveys. Attendees will gain new insights into what students want and need in their postsecondary education journey.

Depending on where you live, the area in which you work is made of a series of communities. More specifically, in career and technical education (CTE), we’re often working with partners from education, business, and philanthropy. In order for our programs to truly have impact, it’s vital that we build relationships between relevant groups so that our work can thrive in a space of integration — not isolation.

Bring back the childlike excitement to your classroom! Create a powerful and exciting learning environment using your 3D printer, laser engraver, vinyl printer, and/or sublimation printer! Learn how to design and implement project-based lessons that challenge students using the engineering design process, coding, laser engraving, graphic design, vinyl printer and 3D "challenges". Attendees will also learn how I have implemented "Shark Tank" presentations into several of my projects. Every lesson will help students improve their employability skills (team work, communication, problem solving, etc) and relate to a variety of careers. I will share how to manage the production process and lessons I've learned. Time will also be given for attendees to share their experiences and ideas. Attendees will walk away with FREE lesson plans and useful websites!

Consistently in the red and facing single-digit enrollment numbers, the automotive collision program was struggling to meet industry needs. The facilities were out dated, equipment was out of alignment with industry, and late model vehicles and other resources were scarce. Funding was limited, so external partnerships became critical and necessary for the survival of this program. After a curriculum rewrite, alignment to 13 industry-recognized credentials, securing a program-specific accreditation, and completing a shop remodel, industry leaders were asking to be part of the change. Relationships were fostered and built to support the program and has resulted in over $800,000 invested into the automotive programs at the college. Relationships with Toyota, the largest family of automotive dealerships in the region, the accrediting body, a national foundation, and the industry-standard training provider resulted from this work. Learn how you can build these partnerships to support your CTE programs.

Work-based learning (WBL) experiences have become an integral part of Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) programs. These experiences allow students to gain practical skills and knowledge in their chosen fields, preparing them for successful careers. However, not all work-based learning experiences are created equal. The quality of these experiences can have a significant impact on student learning outcomes, as well as on industry/community partnerships. In this session, participants will 1) examine the different types of WBL experiences offered in FCS programs; 2) discuss the importance of quality work-based learning experiences in improving student learning outcomes; 3) analyze the factors that contribute to the quality of WBL experiences; and 4) identify best practices for developing and implementing quality WBL experiences that increase their sustainability in FCS programs. Additionally, an online tool will be shared with participants showcasing numerous WBL resources for developing quality WBL experiences in FCS.

The Nicholas County Career and Technical Center has developed a recruiting model wrapped around engaging micro-career exploration projects that has led to record breaking enrollment year and year. Learn how the school evolved their recruiting efforts to maximize traditional and non-traditional student enrollment. The recruiting model has gained national recognition from the Southern Education Regional Board (SREB) and the school has received consecutive National Pacesetters Awards based around this work.

After hearing people say, "I wish our schools taught _____," we decided to start telling our own story. Website, social media and publications you need to know the reasons why it is important to tell your story to your stakeholders and community. You will learn the value and simple processes you can put in place to create content and best practices for sharing the awesome things that happen every day on our campuses. The presentation is informative, videos and sites inserted through out and shows what is capable simply by having a smart phone. Your bad stories get told it is important to tell the good stories. We will cover how to gain social media equity and how to utilize to inform your community and multiply the effect of your outreach. The presentation is open to everyone at any technology level and whether you promote entire programs or just your class, I think you will leave with something that will change the way you see the world we live in. You will laugh or you can take my swag collection.

States are investing and innovating in CTE to improve students’ education and career outcomes, develop the talent pipeline and strengthen their economies. Learn more about recent trends in state CTE policy, including state laws, executive orders, board of education actions and budget provisions, and how these policies impact local programs.?

PBL offers a framework for equipping students to succeed in future challenges in the workplace. Focusing too much on developing gold-standard projects can cause educators to miss out on the value of day-to-day instructional practices that can positively impact learning. Dive into the key design elements of gold standard PBL, as well as the project-based teaching practices that can bring improved learning for students, whether used as part of a PBL or as stand-alone strategies.

Join our esteemed panel of diverse minority leaders, each of whom has played a pivotal role in shaping workforce development strategies across rural, suburban, and urban districts. Immerse yourself in their compelling narratives, and uncover how districts, technical centers, and community colleges are leveraging the capabilities of augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) technology and other tools to ignite inspiration for future CTE careers in minority subgroups. Delve into their innovative approaches as they guide students through immersive real-world simulations in diverse technical fields, helping them discover potential career paths and master essential skills in fields such as Health Science, Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation, Agri-Science, Computer Science, and more.