The Hands-On Approach to Job Training

Vocational Education

The Hands-On Approach to Job Training

Edwin Bryden

Dr. William Waite

TED 502

State University College at Oswego

December 2, 2003

1

Introduction

Vocational Education is a very particular type of education. Waite and Pesesky define Vocational Education as teaching students to perform a very specific task (p. 20). Programs in this area can vary greatly on how specific the training is. For example, certain programs could train only in a specific area of knowledge, like auto body repair or engine repair, and be considered Vocational Education. Other programs could train in a specific field, like automotive repair, and cover all the areas of knowledge involved. This program could still be considered Vocational Education.

Vocational Education programs are generally designed to use hands-on training for students to learn specific knowledge. This is an alternative to the typical classroom education where students learn from listening and watching, but commonly not from doing. Students who choose Vocational Education programs will be able to learn by doing things that would typically be done on the work site. This gives those students an advantage over other students who may have knowledge, but no first hand experiences. This type of education is a modern alternative to ancient apprenticeships, but is much faster and more efficient (Waite & Pesesky, p. 20).

Choosing Your Field

There are Vocational Education programs in the United States for just about anyone. The majority of the programs are designed for adults who are either looking for a career change or want hands-on experiences before entering the job market. The web site www.getcareerskills.com is one of many sites developed to help people find a program in their area of interest. Some areas include Aircraft Maintenance, Automotive Technicians, Diesel Technicians, Computer Repair, Construction, Electricians, Machinists, Motorcycle Technicians, Nurses, and Veterinary Assistants just to name a few.

Not all programs are limited to just adults. There are programs designed around the high school level too. Oswego County BOCES offers extensive programs in many vocational fields. Students who enter this program can graduate from high school with hands-on training and even certification in a variety of fields. This can give certain students an advantage over other students who attend college after high school. The students who attend a vocational program at BOCES can enter the job market earlier than those who go on to school as adults. This is also a good alternative program for students who are not successful in a classroom setting. Many students who enter a program at BOCES are either failing or doing poorly in classes at their home school.

2

Oswego County BOCES

There are many programs to choose from BOCES which provide hands-on training and also job site training. Most of the information in this section was found on the web site http://www.oswegoboces.org/ which is the Oswego County BOCES web site. Because of the size of this site, each section of information is cited by which link it came from. Oswego County BOCES (OCB) offers programs for every age group from preschool to adult. Some programs are vocational oriented and some are not. The different programs are located all across Oswego County but the main campus is the B. Ramer Tech school located in Mexico, NY. This school accepts students from all of the public school districts in Oswego County including Altmar-Parish-Williamstowm, Central Square, Fulton, Hannibal, Mexico, Oswego, Phoenix, Pulaski, and Sandy Creek (http://www.oswegoboces.org/about/about_districts.asp).

B. Ramer Tech offers a variety of programs for students looking for career skills and experiences in different career fields. The programs are designed to help students prepare for a full time job, enhance their eligibility for an advanced military rating, earn a part-time job to provide the money needed for college, and make a clearer choice of which career path to pursue. The teachers at B. Ramer tech come from years of experience in the working world. They can help students succeed with access to industry related credentials and licenses, promotion of critical thinking, problem solving and other work skills, practical work experience, internships, academic and college credits, and scholarship opportunities (…/courses/courses.asp).

Multi-Occupational Education

The Multi Occupation Program or Multi-Occ is a general program used as a vocational assessment for students. The program is open to students with and without an identified classification. Students with a classification may attend the program between the ages of 13.7 to 18+ years. The student’s classification is based on their IEP or Individualized Educational Plan (…/speced/multi_program.asp). In order for a student to be classified on their IEP, a Special Education representative, guidance representative, administration representative, regular education teacher, and a psychologist (if available) all need to classify the student (Wayne Whitfield, Class Lecture, September 2003). If a student is classified and wants to join a OCB Multi-Occ. program, they need to be recommended through their IEP by the local Committee on Special Education. If a student does not have an IEP and is not classified, they may attend the program between the ages of 14.7 to 16.6. Students without classifications

3

also need to be recommended for the program. This is generally done through a guidance counselor or principal. The program has five components: Pre Multi Occ, Multi Occ I, Multi-Occ II, Multi-Occ III and IV, and Occupational Education with Resources. The programs offer a variety of classes to choose from at each level. .Most classes are 12-1-1 which means 12 students for every teacher and teacher assistant (…/speced/multi_program.asp).

With a small number students, two teachers, and materials for each class, a program this extensive doesn’t come cheap. There is a tuition cost for each student just like a college or university. The difference is that the student doesn’t pay, the student’s home school district does. There is a small increase in tuition each year and the amount per student is based on the program being full at 162 students. The tuition for a student in the Multi-Occ program in 2003 is $8,383. This price is for one student attending the Multi-Occ department for a half day five days a week. Students who attend the program for both halves of the day cost twice the amount. The school districts are also responsible for transporting all of the students from their district to B. Ramer Tech and other OCB locations. The home school districts pay the tuition amount in full for each student before he or she is enrolled in the program. These districts can receive some of this money back from the government depending on a student’s classification and other situations. The money for tuition mainly covers the cost of teachers, teacher assistants, and materials (Jim Huber, personal conversation, December 2, 2003).

Pre Multi-Occ

Pre. Multi-Occ is a general exploratory program. Students may enroll in this program from 13.7 to 14.6 years old. The classroom is located in Park Hall on the State University of Oswego campus. The program only enrolls about 12 students a year so most students begin the program later at Multi-Occ I. The program covers up to 10 hands-on modules in different areas of technology. Some of these areas include Plastics, Woods, Metals, Printing, Electricity, and Aerospace. The program enrolls many students who have been diagnosed as at-risk students. This can be because of problems at home or problems at their home school. Because of this, the program puts great emphasis on reinforcing vocabulary and writing skills, measurement skills, the ability to follow directions and safety rules, good work habits, and good social skills. Students attend this program for a half day five days a week. Each student leaves the program with a portfolio containing progress through the year. The program’s staff will recommend the student either for Multi-Occ I. or a full day at their home school (…/speced/multi_pre.asp).

4

Multi-Occ I

Most students begin the Multi-Occ program in Multi-Occ I. Students may attend this program between the ages of 14 to 16. This program is also a vocational exploratory program that is attended five half days a week. Students may choose six different 26 day modules for the year. There are many areas to choose from including Automotives, CPR-First Aid, Horticulture, Keyboarding, Home Management, Foods, Horse Management, Carpentry, Production, Retailing, Masonry, Sewing, Small Engines, and many others. Most of these areas are covered through introductory classes at the Multi-Occ I stage. Students receive hands-on experiences in class as well as reinforcement in vocabulary and math skills. The students will also add experiences learned to their portfolio to take with them at the end of the year. Staff will recommend students from Multi-Occ I to continue on to Multi-Occ. II, III, IV, Occ. Ed. With Resources, or the Work-Study program (…/speced/multi_multi1.asp).

Multi-Occ II

The Multi-Occ II program provides more specific information to students to prepare them for occupational placement. Students may attend this program between the ages of 16 to 17. This program also meets five half days a week but the students choose 4 ten week modules this time. Placement in these modules is based on a student’s interest, choice, and skills from Multi-Occ I. If a student did not attend Multi-Occ I, their placement is based on a former assessment of interests and aptitude. Multi-Occ II is similar to Multi Occ I with classroom skills such as vocabulary and math but is more specific with the vocational knowledge. Students can choose areas to study such as Automotives, Home Management, Foods, Carpentry, Home Repair Technology, Clerical Skills, Production, Child Safety, Nursing, Maple Syrup Production, Welding, Small Engines, and many others. Some classes are still at a introductory level but some are taught at a higher level. Students will add to their portfolio again at the end of the year with interests, aptitudes, and new experiences. The student’s skills, interests, and behaviors are also assessed at the end of Multi-Occ II. The student is then either recommended for another year at Multi-Occ II or to move on to Multi-Occ III, IV, Occ. Ed. With Resources, Career Technical Education, or the Work-Study program (…/speced/multi_multi2.asp).

Multi-Occ III & IV

Multi-Occ III and IV are based more with student work preparation and production. Students may attend these programs between the ages of 16.7 to 18.7 years. Students choose one area to attend for a half day, five days a

5

week. The areas to choose from at this level are set up as businesses rather than an academic class. Students attend class as if it was their job. Students practice personal and team skills necessary at the work place such as attendance, integrity, personal management, safety, attitude, cooperation, and dependability. Students also learn important concepts such as calculating pay based on time records, practice job applications, resumes, interviewing, and personal presentation. The areas students can choose from in Multi-Occ III and IV include the Retail Store, Manufacturing Plus or Job Shadowing. The Retail Store gives students the opportunity to practice first hand the skills they have received with a real production run of products. Students will practice customer service skills, computerized cash sales, counting money and math skills, and inventory management of products and supplies. Manufacturing Plus allows students to learn about the world of manufacturing products. The products made in class are sold locally and across the state. Students also learn skills such as record keeping, cash sales, job applications, resumes, and interviewing. Job Shadowing gives students the opportunity to work with local businesses. Students can see first hand the expectations from employers and skills necessary in different fields. At the end of Multi-Occ III and IV, students will again add to their portfolio to either bring back the next year or bring to the working world if they have completed school (…/speced/multi_multi3.asp).

Other Programs

Oswego County BOCES offers many other programs besides the Multi-Occupation program. There are so many programs in all, it would only be reasonable to mention a few more. The OCB Work-Study Programs are set up to allow students the opportunity to work at local businesses. About 275 businesses across Oswego County are involved in this program in a variety of fields (Steve Bollenbacher, personal conversation, December 2, 2003). These businesses include fast food restaurants, grocery stores, department stores, hair salons, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, daycare centers, schools, and many others (Work-Study Pamphlet, 2003). In a typical year approximately 15 to 20 businesses are involved at once, employing 30 to 50 OCB students (Steve Bollenbacher, personal conversation, December 2, 2003). OCB provides just about everything a student and their employer could need. This includes transportation for the student, insurance for the student, and a job coach to help train the student. The local businesses don’t even have to pay the students to work. The students keep track of their own hours and are paid through OCB. Students in the Work-Study Program go to their jobs up to four full days a week to learn the responsibility of full or part-time employment (Work-Study Pamphlet, 2003).

6

The New Visions Law and Government program is for high school seniors who are interested in the fields of law and government. This program runs five half days a week at the Public Safety Office in Oswego. Students rotate through first-hand criminal justice careers three days a week and a classroom setting two days. Students can observe and experience criminal justice settings such as probation, county sheriff, local police departments, District Attorney’s Office, local law offices, town justice, and county/supreme court. This could include ride-alongs with the police, office work, and court observations (…/courses/high_law.asp).