Park Plaza Hotel
Boston, Massachusetts
May 9, 10 & 11, 2002

37^th Annual National Conference

  "Implementing Career Clusters and Assessing Student Learning"

Pre-Conference Program

  Agenda

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2002

6:00 p.m. NAWI Board Meeting, President’s Suite

Naomi Bryson, President

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2002

7:45 a.m. Continental Breakfast – Registration, Terrace Room

8:30 a.m. Welcome, Terrace Room

9:00 a.m. General Session I, Terrace Room

Career Clusters and Assessment: United States Department of Education Perspective
Hans Meeder, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S Department of Education
Facilitator: Naomi Bryson

10:00 a.m. Career Clusters: Update of the Status of 11 Career Clusters Nationally: Progress to date and future work

Dr. Charles Losh, Project Director, Career Clusters Initiative
Facilitator: Sandra Dunkel

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. General Session II, Terrace Room

Assessing Career Clusters: A Plan
Pam Stacey, Career Clusters Initiative
Facilitator: Charles Losh

11:30 a.m. Academic Skills: The Symbiotic Relationship between Career Clusters and Academic Standards

Panel Discussion
Facilitator: Doug Webster

12:15 p.m. Lunch, Stanbro Room

1:15 p.m. General Session III, Terrace Room

2:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions I

3:15 Break

3:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions II

"Massachusetts Tech Prep Information Technology Career Cluster"
Christine Shaw, Project Manager, MCCTE, Lexington, Massachusetts
Facilitator: Les Snyder

5:30 p.m. President’s Reception, Plaza Ballroom

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2002

7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast – Registration, Stanbro Room

8:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions III

9:30 a.m. Break

9:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions IV

"Portfolio Assessment", St James Room
John P. Thomas, Blackstone Valley Tech, Upton, Massachusetts
Facilitator: Mary Ann Harriman

"Trail Blazers: Plotting a Path Through the Career Maze", White Hall
Eileen Lander Maicon, Carol Sheppard, Charles W. Flanagan High School, Pembroke Pines, Florida
Facilitator: Barbara White

10:45 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. Breakout Sessions III

"But I’m Not an Academic Teacher!" – Learn how ALL teachers can help students succeed on standardized tests, St. James Room
Dr. Martha J. Raphael, Baypath Regional Vocational Technical High School, Charlton, MA
Facilitator: Marcia Roman

12:00 noon Lunch, Stanbro Room

4:30 p.m. Return to Hotel

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2002

8:30 a.m. General Session IV, Stanbro Room

Full Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Simply Put - Next Steps: What YOU can do to utilize tools learned.

Facilitator: John McDonagh

Information Swap: Participants will have an opportunity to share promising practices.

10:00 a.m. Perkins? Future Funding? Plus theme ideas for the NAWI 2003 Conference

Kim Greene, NASDVTC, invited
Facilitator: Naomi Bryson

10:45 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. NAWI Business Meeting, Hancock Room

All NAWI members/conference participants are welcome to participate

Noon Adjourn

Thursday, May 9, 2002

General Session III – 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

"The Role of Career Clusters in Connecting Information Technology (IT): Skills for Living, Learning, and Working", Terrace Room

Joyce Malyn-Smith and Siobhan Bredin, Education Development Center, Newton, MA

What is the disconnect between our education and employment systems and why is it keeping us from filling the IT pipeline? What is the pivotal role of career cluster projects in reshaping how we approach IT learning for all potential workers? How can we use the same skills continuum to structure technology programs for living, learning and working? This session discusses connections between the IT Pathway Pipeline Model: Rethinking Technology Learning in Schools with the 16 career cluster initiatives; and illustrates how the career clusters can provide a platform for IT workforce development in a knowledge-based society.

Dr. Malyn-Smith has presented at more than 50 local, regional and state conferences in the past 8 years including ACTE/AVA, League for Innovation in the Community Colleges, ASCD, AACC Workforce Conference, AAUW, IASA, regional/state IT Conferences (15), STW and Career Cluster conferences.

Breakout Sessions I – 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Cluster 1: Arts, Audio, Video, and Technology Communications

"Building the Foundation of Career Clusters: The Story of Communications High School", White Hall

James R. Gleason and Judy Sobko, Communications High School, Wall, New Jersey

Twenty years ago the Monmouth County Vocational School District introduced the first career academy named The Marine Academy of Science and Technology. It changed the way people view education in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Now, after two additional academies, they’re doing it again. The Communications High School opened its doors in September of 2000 based on the foundation of Career Clusters. At this session, you will learn about the Communications High School - a school that was designed with career clusters in mind.

The presentation will include an introduction and explanation of the career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District. Special attention will be geared towards the Visual Communications Program.

Cluster 2: Manufacturing Building Linkages

"VT Beginning at the End – Performance Based Credentials", St. James Room

Bruce Gabrus, Southwest Vermont Career Development Center, George Dykstra, New Hampshire Technical College, Bud Davison, Merriam Graves Corporation, Jack Russell, Center for Self-Sustaining Leadership

People who walk the talk from the automotive and welding industries and manufacturing technical education will share a proven credentialing process to prepare quality, entry-level employees. Start with a "picture" of a quality-performing employee. See the practical steps to achieving this picture -- standards, performance assessments, competencies (technical, applied academic and workplace), curriculum, professional development planning, and continuous improvement assessments.

Presenters will use an interactive panel discussion process with questions and answers. The presentation will include: What: overview of the process; Why: value to education and industry, and value of credentials -- higher wages, advance standing in registered apprenticeship programs, advance standing in post-secondary education; Who: industry subject matter experts and technical instructors; How: outline of practical steps – "here is how you can start today to get the job done".

Breakout Sessions II - 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Cluster 3: Information Technology

"Massachusetts Tech Prep Information Technology Career Cluster" …………………………………………..White Hall

Christine Shaw, Project Manager, MCCTE, Lexington, MA

This presentation will provide an overview of the foundation course skill standards called "IT Concepts I and II" and the four pathways defined for the IT field: Networking Systems, Interactive Media, Information Support and Services, and Programming and Software Development. The IT Career Cluster Model was developed by a taskforce representing secondary, post secondary, and vocational technical schools. Each of the pathways involves articulation and program sequencing through the post secondary level. Skill standards are based on existing national and state frameworks as well as from local and regional school programs.

The presentation will refer to a website developed through this project with links to curriculum, industry and post secondary links for IT program development. Discussion regarding employment trends, vendor vs. non-vender curriculum and resources will be encouraged.

Cluster 4: Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

"Making a Change – The Journey from Career Tracking to Career Clusters", St. James Room

Peggy Smith, Tom Borich, and Steve High, Superior School District, Superior, WI

As members of a career that has changed very little over time, how do teachers take on the task of assisting students to chose learning paths that allow them both focus and flexibility? As recipients of both a Career Cluster Pilot Grant (Transportation) and a Small Schools Initiative planning grant, Superior High School has spent the past eighteen months exploring that question and planning to implement career clusters for all students over the next three years.

Participants will hear the research that supported the work of Superior High School in moving into career clusters, share strategies to assist teachers to understand the difference between old career tracking and today’s career clusters, briefly examine the lessons learned in planning and change, and hear a brief description of Superior’s plans to implement career clusters. The presentation will include the staff development activity of Here’s What! So What? Now What? so that participants can add their knowledge of the research and can give suggestions for our work in Now What?

Friday May 10, 2002

Breakout Sessions III – 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

"Massachusetts Certificate of Occupational Proficiency: Local Certification with National Perspectives", St. James Hall

John McDonagh, John Roper, and Louis F. Perriello, Massachusetts Center for Career and Technical Education, Lexington, MA

This workshop will follow the development of the Massachusetts Certificate of Occupational Proficiency from its inception to date. The certificate was mandated by the state legislature in 1993 to recognize outstanding graduates of comprehensive education and training programs who can demonstrate mastery of a core of skills, competencies and knowledge comparable to that which is available in the most educationally advanced education systems in the world. So…what’s the trick to doing that?

Chairpersons from cluster areas will speak about how individual occupational committees developed their competency listings and how the cluster committees worked to identify cross-cluster occupational skills, as well as how the Employment Skills Committee identified workplace skills that are common across eight clusters. Attendees will receive copies of competency lists, employability skill lists and rubrics for an assessment portfolio.

"Sharing the Wealth: Real Audiences = Real Learning", White Hall

Jane Koszoru and Margie Rohrbach, Coral Springs High School, Coral Springs Florida

How can you motivate students to produce quality work? One way is to involve the whole school and your local business community in the authentic assessment of that work. Two teachers share a training program for teachers and business partners using rubrics to assess career-based research projects, exhibitions, reading and writing practice, and digital portfolios that resulted in improved scores on state-mandated tests. Participants will receive a packet of materials and strategies to implement at their own schools.

Breakout Sessions IV – 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

"Portfolio Assessment", St James Room

John P. Thomas, Blackstone Valley Tech, Upton, Massachusetts

Blackstone Valley Tech is in its fifth year of portfolio assessment. Valley Tech has been recognized by the High-Schools-That-Work national network of Career Technical schools as a "Pacesetter School". Portfolio assessment is one of seven Across the Curriculum efforts responsible for Valley Tech’s increase rate of improvement.

This presentation will take you through the questions that need to be addressed to ensure full implementation of portfolio assessment. Issues related to cost, storage, maintenance, security, control and responsibility will be addressed. Scrapbooks, rubrics, and on-line web page and CD examples will be presented.

"Trail Blazers: Plotting a Path Through the Career Maze", White Hall

Eileen Lander Maicon, Carol Sheppard, Charles W. Flanagan High School, Pembroke Pines, Florida

In order to link what students learn in school with the knowledge and skills they need for success in college and careers, they need to explore career pathways and identify their interests and future goals as early as ninth grade. A "ten-minute fix" is helping transform a high school’s approach by creating exploratory pathways that work. Charles W. Flanagan High School, the largest in Florida, is utilizing the resources of both Smaller Learning Communities and Annenberg Challenge Grants to strengthen the Career Pathway concept.

Participants will be able to understand and utilize the concepts of Smaller Learning Communities as a means of grouping students and teachers; consider the factors that impact their particular school, including data, state assessment parameters, and graduation requirements, create a ten minute block of time for career exploration as well as a "Pathfinder" course in ninth grade; become "generalists" who guide students in choosing a career pathway; make appropriate decisions regarding staff development; and link ninth grade exploratory pathways to the Career Pathways in grades 10, 11, and 12 to promote success in college and the workforce.

Breakout Sessions V – 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

"But I’m Not an Academic Teacher!" – Learn how ALL teachers can help students succeed on standardized tests, St. James Room

Dr. Martha J. Raphael, Baypath Regional Vocational Technical High School, Charlton, MA

This content rich workshop demonstrates the usefulness of English and Mathematics in improving communication skills and problem solving strategies used by your students in all disciplines, careers, and life. Hands-on English and mathematics activities will be presented that can be used in your class setting. Included will be the development of appropriate open-response questions and appropriate rubrics for student success. The content and methodology is particularly helpful for students who have difficulty on standardized tests.

"A Model for Educating High School Faculty about Transportation and Logistics Career Clusters", White Hall

Richard D. Stewart, Ph. D, University of Wisconsin, Superior, WI

The US Department of Transportation through their Transportation Distribution and Logistics Career Cluster and the State of Wisconsin through their Youth Apprenticeship Program try to encourage students to enter the field of transportation and logistics. These programs have met with limited success because of a shortfall of High School faculty knowledgeable about this field. A model addressing how to educate teachers developed at the Transportation and Logistics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Superior will be presented for consideration for national use.

HOTEL INFORMATION

The NAWI Conference will be held at: The Park Plaza Hotel 64 Arlington Street Boston, Massachusetts (617) 426-2000 Fax (617) 426-5545 For reservations call 1-800-225-2008

Boston Web Site: http://www.boston-online.com/

Hotel Web Site: http://www.bostonparkplaza.com/

Rates:

Single or Double $130.00 No charge for additional person

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY TO GET A NAWI GROUP RATE!!! A block of rooms are reserved through April 8

For Conference Registration, go to http://nawi.ws/cvd/MembAppl.cfm ($250.00 includes one year membership)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

FOR WORKFORCE IMPROVEMENT

Photos by Gene Lee (genel@inforamp.net)