“Work-Based Learning Pays”

Dutchess Boces CTI Student Casey Murphy Chosen as a New York State 2009-2010 Vanguard Award Winner

Casey Andrew Murphy is a 12th grade student from Millbrook High School who is pursuing his career goals as a certified nursing assistant at the Dutchess BOCES Career and Technical Institute (CTI) in Poughkeepsie, New York. Murphy has been selected as a 2009-2010 Vanguard Award Winner.

The Vanguard Award recognizes outstanding secondary and post-secondary level students who are enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in New York State that are not traditional for their gender. Since the Career Options Institute initiated the Vanguard Student Recognition Award program in 1993, more than 100 students enrolled in programs leading to non-traditional careers have been recognized.

Faculty and staff of secondary and post-secondary non-traditional CTE programs throughout New York State nominated eligible students. Of those nominated, seven students were selected from twenty-four finalists to receive the Vanguard Award.

Four secondary and three post-secondary non-traditional students currently enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs will receive the Vanguard Student Recognition Award at the Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators (ACTEA) conference in February 2010 in Albany, New York. The award includes a certificate and public recognition of the students as role models for others considering non-traditional careers.

Murphy will be featured on a non-traditional career poster that will be available for purchase throughout the United States.

Cooperative Career and Technical Education Work Experience Program (CO-OP)

THIS IS WORK-BASED LEARNING!

This short video made in Animoto briefly shows that we sponsor approved cooperative career & technical education work experience internships. These are paid student internships where employers hire our CTI students that met the qualifications of the program. Usually based on a 20 week internship, the students actually “work” for an employer who has agreed to train, mentor and help support their trade instruction that they receive at CTI.

This experience allows each student to expand and explore their trade talents, and it allows them to get “real world experience” during their “senior” year in high school. The program is only open to “seniors” who have already completed one year of career & technical education. A memorandum of understanding is agreed between the employer, the student, the parent, the student’s home school and his career & technical education trade school. This agreement allows the student to be monitored during his “work experience” and supports his trade training at CTI. There are also specific safety standards and compliance with New York State labor laws that must be adhered to during the “work experience.”

The program is strictly monitored by a certified “work experience” coordinator that becomes the liaison between the student, the employer, his home school and parents.

There are other “work-based” programs available at CTI that allow students who are enrolled in a trade class to explore and experience their related trade subjects in a “real world” environment; these include the Career Exploration Internship Program (CEIP), a non-paid internship; also mentoring, job shadowing, and the school-to-work apprenticeship program (SWAP) in answer to the needs of youth seeking apprenticeships in a competitive apprenticeship market. The SWAP program is coordinated with the NYS Department of Labor.

So, if you are interested in being ready for college, and also being work force ready, check into the various programs offered at CTI under the “Work-Based Learning Programs” banner. Remember, “experience is the best teacher… Sue Gubing”

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG SITE ON WORK-BASED LEARNING!

VIDEO WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE ON WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS

CTI Students Tackle The National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Exams

Small engines student working on a practical evaluation during recent NOCTI exams, as the testing proctor, Mr. O'Connor observes the process.

Deputy Sheriff Wasilewski, a former CTI graduate, proctors the Crime Scene Evaluation for our Security & Law students.

Staying focused on the task, during a practical NOCTI evaluation on Small Engines.

Small Engines practical NOCTI evaluation at CTI.

Law Enforcement students processing evidence during their NOCTI practical evaluations.

Culinary Arts student going through their NOCTI evaluations cooking up a storm.

Law Enforcement students completing their practical NOCTI exams.Processing the crime scene during a NOCTI practical evaluation.

NOCTI proctor evaluating a culinary arts student.

Culinary student ponders his next challenge during his NOCTI evaluation.

Culinary arts student stays focused during her NOCTI evaluation.

Mr. Berti, the Electrical Construction Teacher, stands next to Mr. Underwood, of Underwood & Sons, Inc., who was the proctor assigned to monitor the electrical construction NOCTI exams this year.

The Dutchess Boces Career & Technical Institute students are hard at work facing the challenging NOCTI examinations. These exams are nationally recognized competency assessments in their career speciality.
From their website: NOCTI is a leading provider of high-quality occupational competency assessment products and services to secondary and post-secondary educational institutions in the United States and around the world.
NOCTI’s services include job and task analysis, test development, written and performance assessments delivered in both online and hard copy format, scoring services, cut score workshops and specialized reporting. These products and services are built upon nationally validated, workplace-based standards.

Today, we had students from the Culinary Arts, Small Engine Repair, Electrical Construction and our Law Enforcement trade classes being evaluated by invited approved Proctors who are either local business or shop owners or are currently serving in those career specialities in the Dutchess County area. These career assessments are strictly controlled by our Curriculum Specialist Administrator, Mrs. Eileen Sikora. She basically takes on the role of “control officer” for all of the trade exams. In addition, CTI trade instructors are NOT allowed to preview any examination or skill assessment prior to the actual exams. This control measure allows for a fair, impartial and controlled career skill assessment of the students who participate. If the students receive a passing score on their evaluations, they receive a nationally-certified certificate of occupational competency in their trade skill.

A Former CTI Graduate, Nicole, now a CIA student proctors the culinary arts evaluation.

CTI Chef Sala and her former Student Nicole, now a CIA student, acts as an exam proctor for the culinary arts evaluation.

CTI Student smiles as she completes her NOCTI evaluation.

Two students going through their NOCTI evals.

This certification is just another tool in our student’s career plan toolbox that allows them, upon completing a two-year trade program to receive the New York State Regents Career & Technical Endorsement seal on their Regents diplomas. (see below)  This endorsement allows potential employers to see that the student has completed a two-year trade program and has passed a nationally recognized occupational assessment in their trade speciality. 

 Electrical Construction students complete their NOCTI skill assessments.

CTI STUDENTS JUMP START THEIR CAREERS THROUGH ASVAB

 –Ben Stein  

This academic year, students at CTI participated in the ASVAB Career Exploration Program.  Over 180 Junior and Senior students from all 13 supported districts actively participated in the ASVAB Career Exploration Program that is provided by the Department of the Army, as a free aptitude testing that students can use to plan their secondary and post-secondary careers.  The program is broken into three phases.  The first phase allows students to get an interpretive evaluation of their current aptitudes, Mrs. Susan Anderson, an education specialist from the Albany Testing Division conducts the evaluations about 5 days after testing results are scored.  The second phase involves the students understanding their scores and then taking a 90 question interest inventory based on the well known Dr. Holland RIASEC code, which aligns their career interests to their ASVAB scores and gives them a 3-letter RIASEC code.  The RIASEC code which stands for Dr. Holland’s interpretations on personality and career interests, gives them aligned careers based on their career interests.  For example, the code looks at six personality/interest areas; they are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional.  These six interest codes can be used to describe your likes and dislikes, your top interest codes show your three strongest interest areas based on how your scores compare with the scores of high school students who have taken the FYI interest survey.   Why the interest inventory?  The first step toward finding a career is to spend some time finding out about you.  Grades and test scores are only part of the picture.  Knowing your primary interest areas can help you determine career fields or occupations that are potentially satisfying.

Below are excerpts from “The ASVAB Career Exploration Guide”:

Your ASVAB scores can help you see what your current strengths are.  You may not have the skills for a certain job now, but you can often learn them! 

USING YOUR SCORES                      

Your ASVAB results provide information on your current levels of skills and abilities.  These scores do not predict success or failure.  Just as a high score does not guarantee success, a low score does not necessarily mean failure in a n occupation.  In addition, you can work toward improving your skills through training and/or experience.  Phase Three is using the OCCU-Find that provides information about many aspects of occupations, including the importance of Verbal, Math, and Science and Technical Skills.  When you compare your skills against the OCCU-Find information, keep in mind that you will need additional training before entering most occupations.  Training may include college education or vocational training.  You can also explore opportunities outside of your school such as finding a mentor or volunteering in a given field.  Trying out new things is a great way to increase confidence in a given area.                                                     

HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR SCORES?

If your scores on the ASVAB were lower than you expected, you should ask yourself why.  For example, you may not have had the opportunity to develop some of the skills tested by the ASVAB.  You may want to talk to your counselor or teachers for suggestions on how to improve your skills.

 WORK VALUES                              

Understanding what you value is important in exploring various occupations and planning your future.  In fact, some people believe that values are the most important thing to consider when choosing an occupation.  You can start now to decide the kind of occupations that will be consistent with your work values.  As you consider the importance of various work-related values, ask your parents, school counselor, or other interested adults about their work values.  Also, we encourage you to discuss work values with someone employed in an occupation that interests you.

Research has shown that people who choose occupations that support their values are generally more satisfied with their jobs.  For some people, job satisfaction comes from performing the work itself; for others, it is a result of factors such as the work environment or earning  potential.                                                          

EXPLORATION

Using the “CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM” you will be able to explore occupations in line with your interests and skills; you will gain career exploration experience that will last a lifetime.

TAKE ACTION!                                         

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS… if you want more information about the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, contact Mr. Bonefont, Coordinator of Work-Based Learning Programs at 845-486-8001, ext. 307

While this program is run by the Department of Defense, there is no active military recruiting allowed during testing; military recruiters are assigned as testing proctors for all ASVAB testing sessions.  As a school, you can decide the option to either release or not to release any student information to military recruiters.  As a policy at CTI, we have opted NOT TO RELEASE student information to local military recruiters.

For further direct information contact Ms. Susan Anderson or Ms. Lisa Kalfin at the Albany MEPS STP, at 518-320-9868