Career and technical education (CTE) programs exist in nearly every high school in the United States. Despite their almost universal presence throughout the American secondary educational system, however, you’d be hard pressed to find two programs that are the same.
Some programs focus on teaching basic technical skills that can be used in a wide variety of industries. Others focus on specialty skills for particular industries that exist in the communities served by the school.
There are many other factors that shape the exact type of CTE program you’ll find at any specific high school. Things such as funding, the number and types of industries nearby, and the availability and expertise of instructors all work together to make each CTE program a unique reflection of its local landscape.
Although each CTE program tends to be distinct in its resources and focus, there also exists a set of common traits that must be present for any CTE program to flourish and be successful. In this article, we’ll take a brief look at the four essentials for a successful CTE program, as well as how Amatrol’s IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing program incorporates those essential components into a turnkey program that can effectively shape the career paths of today’s students.
Student Engagement & Career Exploration
For years, many people have regarded high school CTE programs as the “lesser than” path for students not bound for college. However, viewpoints have changed in recent years as students and parents alike have learned that a college degree is not a guarantee of a well-paying job or career satisfaction.
Factor in crushing student debt, and it’s easy to see why more and more students are interested in entering the workforce immediately upon graduation. Doing so without in-demand skills, though, is a recipe for disaster. That’s why CTE programs that prepare students for the jobs available in their local community are so valuable.
Unless they have a friend or family member who works in local industry, it’s not always clear to students what types of jobs exist behind the walls of local industrial facilities. Many students are completely unaware of the lucrative and challenging positions that exist in modern industry.
Moreover, students often don’t understand how technology has revolutionized modern industry, making advanced technical skills extremely important for those seeking employment. CTE programs must fill the gap by allowing students to explore career options in a variety of industries and doing so in a way that engages students and excites them about the possibilities within their reach.
According to an article in the Mesa Independent by Shawn Garrelts, “[t]hese education opportunities allow students to explore career pathways early. By taking specialized courses, students identify their strengths and interests, helping them make informed decisions about their future. Whether they choose to pursue a college degree or enter the workforce, they do so with a clearer understanding of their goals.”
Effective CTE programs will expose students to modern industries and the technologies they use. Students will learn the benefits and challenges of particular career pathways, inspiring them to find their passion for a career pathway that will change their lives forever.
Teaching Real-World Skills
If there’s one area where high school CTE programs should stand out from the rest of typical high school curriculum, it’s in the teaching of practical, hands-on, real-world skills that enable students to enter the workforce with the ability to make an immediate impact.
As Garrelts notes, “[o]ne of the biggest advantages of CTE is its focus on hands-on learning. Students engage in practical coursework in fields such as health care, technology and skilled trades. This approach ensures they graduate with experience that directly applies to real-world careers.”
If students are able to practice hands-on skills on training equipment that features real components they’ll see in the workplace, they’ll be able to hit the ground running in the workplace. There’s just no substitute for the confidence that such training imparts.
Students can also benefit from CTE programs that incorporate project-based learning, such as group projects to apply the knowledge and skills they’ve learned to create a real working product of some kind. Such projects challenge students’ critical thinking skills as they apply what they’ve learned in new and challenging contexts.
Project-based learning also teaches critical “soft skills” that are highly valued by employers. According to Garrelts, “[e]mployers consistently emphasize the importance of ‘soft skills’ like communication, problem-solving, adaptability and teamwork. CTE programs intentionally incorporate the practice of these skills into their curriculum, and they complement technical knowledge, ensuring students are well-rounded and prepared to thrive in any professional environment.”
Creating Pathways to Success
How can you measure the quality of a CTE program? Most instructors would argue that a successful CTE program will create multiple pathways to career success for students. This means preparing them for whatever choice they make next, whether that is entering the workforce immediately or pursuing further education and training at a community college or university.
Garrelts points out that “[w]hile CTE prepares students for immediate employment, it also serves as a foundation for those pursuing higher education. Many programs align with post-secondary pathways, enabling students to earn college credits early and transition seamlessly into college while leveraging the skills and knowledge they gained in high school.”
In addition to providing dual credit opportunities for students, successful CTE programs also align the hands-on skills they’re teaching with industry-recognized certifications from national organizations like the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA).
Students earning industry-recognized credentials can pursue employment knowing they have marketable skills evidenced by the certifications they’ve earned. Garrelts agrees: “Graduates with certifications that demonstrate expertise in specific industries frequently enter the job market successfully after high school. These credentials validate their skills and make them more attractive to employers.”
Want another reason to emphasize creating multiple pathways to success for students? How about higher graduation rates? According to Garrelts, “[t]he tangible nature of CTE coursework keeps students engaged by connecting academic learning to real-world applications. This connection motivates students to stay on track, and the data supports this…A recent Newsweek article shows students enrolled in CTE programs have a graduation rate of over 90% — ‘15 percentage points higher than the national average of all academic programs.’”
Program Flexibility
By now, it should be clear how critical it is for every school to have an effective, successful CTE program. But it’s also probably just as clear that setting up and executing such a program is no small task. In too many cases, programs don’t achieve their potential because they’re underfunded and understaffed.
CTE programs often feature instructors pulled from other subject matter areas or borrowed from local industries. In fact, turnover among CTE program instructors is an ongoing concern for many schools. That’s why it’s essential for a CTE program to be flexible in order to make life as easy as possible for instructors.
Instructors need a turnkey solution that’s easy to use. It should contain curriculum that doesn’t require instructors to reinvent the wheel. Flexibility should also mean using curriculum that allows for self-directed eLearning on the part of students.
The program should also include hands-on skill practice and project-based learning opportunities with clearly-defined guidelines and instructions that instructors can incorporate without excess advance planning. Finally, a program must provide a convenient and easy means for instructors to measure and track student progress.
Amatrol Training IGNITEs Student Interest in Manufacturing
Garrelts summarizes the importance of CTE programs as follows: “Across the nation, CTE programs empower students with real-world experience and pathways to success in college, careers and beyond. The impact of CTE extends beyond the classrooms, driving economic growth, addressing skill shortages and shaping the future of our nation’s workforce.”
So how do you go about creating an effective, successful CTE program? Whether you’re starting from zero or looking to build upon a variety of pieces already in place, Amatrol can help you craft a custom CTE program based upon its groundbreaking IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing program.
With more than 30 years of experience designing and manufacturing state-of-the-art training systems, Amatrol remains the world’s leader in skills-based, interactive technical learning for industry and education. IGNITE is a foundational skill development program designed to stimulate student interest in today’s Advanced Manufacturing/Industry 4.0 careers.
Amatrol developed IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing to be a comprehensive advanced manufacturing training program that both provides career exploration opportunities and equips high school students with the in-depth knowledge and hands-on skills they need to be successful in the highly-skilled, high-pay jobs available in advanced manufacturing.
IGNITE was developed in conjunction with LIFT – Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow, including significant contributions from America Makes, MxD – The Digital Manufacturing Institute, The Ohio State University, ASM Materials Education Foundation, and The PAST Foundation.
The IGNITE program exposes students to the many different facets of modern advanced manufacturing. Instructors can also guide the experience to spark student interest in specific subject matter areas.
In addition to hands-on technical skills in a wide variety of disciplines found throughout manufacturing, the IGNITE program also teaches students the valuable, uniquely-human “soft skills” (also commonly called “common employability skills” or “CES”), such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking, that are critical to future career success.
Importantly, IGNITE also prepares students to earn industry-standard certifications that can jump-start their advanced manufacturing careers. For example, IGNITE students can choose to pursue certifications like the MSSC Certified Production Technician Plus Skill Boss certification or advanced Industry 4.0 certifications from SACA.
Consult with an expert at Amatrol today to learn how you can take the first step toward teaching your students or current workers the skills that will set them up for success in the modern workplace.
About Duane Bolin
Duane Bolin is a former curriculum developer and education specialist. He is currently a Marketing Content Developer in the technical training solutions market.
