2019-2020 Pocono Counties TiW

Fostering Career Ready Students through Industry - Education Collaboration: The intent of this project is to bring together 5-12 educators, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Carbon Career & Technical Institute, Lehigh Carbon Community College, and business and industry partners to design and integrate innovative activities into the curriculum to promote career awareness and 21st century work skills. To achieve this end, project partners have created a six-day professional development program that includes the following goals:

A total of 25 educators were recruited from five Carbon County school districts and include: Panther Valley School District, Lehighton Area School District, Jim Thorpe Area School District, Palmerton Area School District, and Weatherly Area School District.

• • 100% of the participants will visit the worksites of three manufacturing businesses: Technical Process & Engineering, Inc., Highwood USA, and KME. Also, Carbon Career & Technical Institute.

  • 100% of the participants will have access to a makerspace to work with emerging technology developing STEM inquiry- and project-based learning activities.

  • Each of the participants will complete a reflection log that includes observed skills and ideas for integrating the skills into the academic program.

  • 100% of the participants will design a STEM-based authentic learning activity that involves open-ended inquiry, thinking skills, and solving a real-world problem outside of the classroom as a community of learners.

  • 100% of the participants will develop lesson plans that expose students to the role science, technology, engineering, and mathematics play in advanced manufacturing.

  • All project deliverables will be compiled into the Bridging the Workplace, Classroom, and OST Environment Playbook. This digital collection will be made available to all school districts.

  • At least 95% of the participants will integrate career readiness activities and workplace skills into the curriculum.

  • Participants will also complete a reflection log and pre- and post-survey.