CTE makes a unique and essential contribution to student learning, and although there is no “right” or “wrong” way to approach CTE education we have found that our favorite CTE teaching tips for educators include themes of collaboration, inclusivity, and flexibility.
These themes are reflected in ACTE’s ongoing High-quality CTE Initiative, which is a research-based framework to describe the key components of a high-quality CTE program of study.
The Framework is designed to apply to individual, local CTE programs of study spanning secondary and postsecondary education, and it contains 12 primary elements and 92 criteria that are essential for CTE program quality.
This voluntary tool can be used for program self-evaluation, program improvement and to encourage secondary-postsecondary collaboration. Here are seven of our favorite CTE teaching tips from the study.
Focus on the labor market.
A successful CTE program will teach curriculum that leads students to careers and opportunities in the local community and region. Therefore, it is recommended that labor market information is used to inform programs of study decision-making and support program improvement.
This may attract partnerships with local community colleges and trade schools who are also focused on serving the labor market. Information sharing between programs can create a smooth pipeline for student success. Local businesses may also get involved as they look out for future employees amid skills-gap challenges in the current workforce.
Aligning with labor market needs is also a requirement to get funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, a main source of federal money for high school and post-secondary CTE programs.
Utilize project-based learning.
An effective way to support students’ attainment of relevant knowledge and skills is through project-based learning and related instructional approaches, such as problem-based, inquiry based and challenge-based learning. PBL has the power to increase engagement and curiosity among students, while also effectively teaches problem-solving for the real world.
Integrating PBL into the classroom can be as simple as sourcing simple classroom projects from online communities such as Instructables, or embracing the maker movement and creating a makerspace in the classroom. PBL can be personalized to fit specific goals of the CTE program’s curriculum, and can even be customized to fit specific career pathways such as advanced manufacturing.
Incorporate technology into your lesson plans.
We are proponents of instruction that incorporates relevant equipment, technology and materials to support learning. The technology that fills CTE classrooms can vary based on students’ and educators’ needs, as well as across CTE disciplines. Our blog post on how CTE students can use technology in the classroom discusses technologies such as simulations and virtual labs, simulation software, eLearning and traditional hands-on equipment.
Build business and community partnerships.
To ensure programs are aligned with workforce needs, partnerships should be formed with a diverse range of stakeholders who represent differing perspectives, including employers from small, medium and large businesses; industry representatives; community, workforce and economic development agencies; and other education stakeholders.
Partners can provide valuable insight into if curriculum, facilities, equipment, technology and materials are consistent with industry standards. If CTE programs are informed by employer and community needs, partners may be inclined to offer work-based learning experiences for students, or externships for educators to stay current with industry-relevant knowledge and skills,
Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center in Charlottesville, Virginia has partnered with FLOW Porsche Charlottesville to allow students to work with luxury cars during and gain valuable experience that they will take with them into the job market.
Offer work-based learning opportunities.
When partnerships are established, it is essential to incorporate work-based learning involving sustained, meaningful interactions with industry or community professionals that foster in-depth, firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career field.
Experiences may be delivered in workplaces, in the community, at educational institutions and/or virtually and include a range of activities such as workplace tours, job shadowing, school-based enterprises, internships and apprenticeships.
For example, WVDE’s Classroom 2 Career program builds work-based learning opportunities for students through community service projects, clinicals, student teaching, internships, apprenticeships and more. Career Experiences within the program include an agreement between the school and the participating business where students work onsite with an evaluation component that is designed to enhance technical instruction and academic competencies.
Address barriers.
Building a workforce that reflects diverse populations requires actively recruiting students from populations that have been traditionally underrepresented, including by gender, race and ethnicity, and/or special population status (including individuals with disabilities, individuals from economically disadvantaged families and English learners).
It can be helpful to introduce CTE fields and topics at a young age, to help students understand the vast opportunities that are available to all learners. Having diverse instructors to teach CTE courses is another barrier that ACTE recognizes. They cite recommendations at the state and local level in this study here.
Aid in student career development.
In addition to teaching technical skills, a strong CTE program is able to help students gain career knowledge and engage in education and career planning and decision-making, including career counseling, career assessments, curricula that helps students learn about careers, information about educational opportunities and workforce trends, and job search information and placement services.
Read the entire ACTE Quality CTE Program of Study Framework here, and get more information at acteonline.org/high-quality-CTE. Also check out our post on teacher CTE resources for more.
