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Enrich your learning through experience.
Enrich your learning through experience.
What is Cooperative Education?
What is Cooperative Education?
Cooperative Education is an experiential learning opportunity that allows students to take their learning from the classroom and apply it to the real world. By immersing themselves in the working world students will learn valuable employability skills, begin networking with community partners, and explore the connections between the curriculum they are learning in school and a career of their choice. It is by definition authentic learning at its best!
Students enrolled in Coop are also eligible for the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program at MMHS – please see Guidance for more information regarding this option. Credits are earned by linking the Co-op credit with a course that the student has taken or is currently taking. The document that outlines these connections is called the Cooperative Education Learning Plan (CELP). This document will be unique to each student as serves as the basis for assessment for the duration of the semester.
Co-op is an excellent option for students interested in taking a Dual Credit course in Grade 11 or 12 as it provides flexibility in your daily schedule. Co-operative education also aligns with the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship (OYAP) Program - which allows students to start their apprenticeship in a Skilled Trade while still in high school.
Cooperative Education Programs at MMHS
Cooperative Education Programs at MMHS
2 credit (half day) Cooperative Education Programs
4 credit (full day) Cooperative Education Programs
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) - available for all students in placements in the Skilled Trades
Accelerated Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Program - Health & Wellness, Environment, Business
Program Overview
Program Overview
The Cooperative Education Program runs the duration of a semester. Students in a two credit program will work a half day (approx. 3 hours a day). Students in a full day program will work full days (approx. 6 hours a day not including lunch).
Below is a summary chart for typical Co-op student timetables as well as program hour requirements.
In-school Component
In-school Component
Pre-Placement
The first 2-3 weeks of a semester are spent IN SCHOOL with the Co-op teacher and are meant to prepare students for the world of work. During this time students will demonstrate knowledge and job readiness in the following areas:
resumes, cover letters, interview skills, dressing for success, health and safety including the Occupational Health & Safety and WHMIS, Human Rights Act, Employment Standards Act, harassment & abuse at the workplace, confidentiality, labour unions etc.
While engaged in Pre-Placement activities students will use their resume, cover letter and interviewing skills to secure their placement for the semester. NOTE: Students interested in a centralized placement will be required to interview BEFORE pre-placement occurs.
Successful completion of all Pre-Placement activities, assessments, and tasks are required before students are allowed to attend their Cooperative Education Placement
Integration
After placement begins, students will return to school for integration days. These days are provided at the beginning of each semester as per course calendar and are a mandatory component of the Co-op Program. Plans for growth and next steps at placement are made and reinforced during this time.
Placement & Community Component
Placement & Community Component
(approximately 200 or 400 hours)
This is the largest component of the Cooperative Education Program and will be unique for each student. Placement runs for approximately 4 months. Students will be expected to attend work for the required number of hours per day.
Placement experiences will vary from placement to placement (see below).
While at placement students will:
develop and practice employability skills;
participate in placement specific tasks and projects;
work safely and responsibly as per placement policies and procedures;
apply the curriculum of their linking course(s) to their learning at placement (as outlined by their CELP);
be monitored by their Coop teacher during this time.
Assessment & Evaluation
Assessment & Evaluation
Log Sheets & Hours
Log Sheets & Hours
As noted above each student will have a target number of hours to reach to earn their Co-op credits. As part of this requirement students will be responsible for tracking their hours and getting their employer to sign off on weekly Co-op Log Sheets. Failure to meet this requirement, or not attending the Co-op placement regularly will jeopardize the credit(s).
Term Work (70% Final Grade)
Term Work (70% Final Grade)
Pre-Placement Assignments & Tests
Monthly Journals
Employer Assessments
Teacher Monitoring Assessments
Summatives (30% Final Grade)
Summatives (30% Final Grade)
Rich Independent Performance Task (occurs at placement in last month of semester)
Career Board / Career Fair (as indicated on course calendar)
Program Exit Interview & Portfolio (during exam period)
Cooperative Education Placements
Cooperative Education Placements
Cooperative Education placements are opportunities for students to link the curriculum they have learned in school to real world authentic experiences. Once enrolled in the Co-op program students will be assigned a linking course that will guide their Co-op experiences.These linking courses must be taken prior to or consecutively with their Co-op Program. We therefore encourage students to make course selections that would compliment their Co-op placement and vice versa. (Note: Students who have selected to participate in SHSM will have further requirements on which courses are eligible to be a Co-op linking course).
Examples of Co-op Placement & Linking Course:
The Community Based Education Department maintains and strives to create positive community partnerships with businesses in the Markham area. When assessing placements for students the department looks at multiple factors when approaching community partners as a host. Certain industries and placements may dictate that students have to travel further distances to meet the job requirements.
If a student has there own contact/placement that they would like to do their Co-op placement with they are encouraged to provide the contact information to their Co-op teacher so contact can be made and a determination of placement appropriateness can be conducted.
More information regarding types of placements can be found on the subpages of this section.
Please Note: All placement experiences are unique and there may be specific time constraints, transportation requirements, certifications and training etc. that are required for placements. If there is a specific question not addressed here or on the following pages please feel free to contact the Coop Department.
Other Co-op Program Considerations
Other Co-op Program Considerations
Dress Code and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Students are expected to dress appropriately for their placement. Placement expectations concerning dress and appearance are usually addressed during the interview process. This could include dressing in business casual, or site specific personal protective equipment.
Behavior & Responsibility & Safe Work Practice•
Coop students and parents must be aware of the responsibility and level of maturity required for their placement. Students are given trust to behave in a responsible and appropriate manner in the working world. If at any point the employer or Co-op teacher feels that the trust has been broken a Co-op student can be removed from placement.
Co-op students must follow safe work practices. They must follow all company and school rules and report to their teacher any/or employer any accidents or incidents that make them uncomfortable or feel unsafe.
Further explanation of these requirements are outlined in the Co-op Statement of Understanding (attached to application).
Transportation
The cost of transportation is the responsibility of the student. During Pre-Placement students will have an opportunity to determine how they will arrive and return from placement. Requests for placements outside of the Newmarket area will be honoured but students and parents must recognize the additional time and cost associated with such placements. Placements in the trades may require travel with further distances and access to personal vehicle.
Cooperative Education Paperwork
Students, parents/guardians, Coop teachers and placement supervisors will be required to complete legal paperwork for participation in the Cooperative Education Program. All paperwork must be completed PRIOR to a student beginning their placement. Failure to submit this paperwork will result in the removal from the Program.
Course Outline
Course Outline
Co-op Statement of Understanding
Co-op Statement of Understanding
Cooperative Education Programs follow the policy, procedure and curriculum expectations outlined in Cooperative Education (2018), Ministry of Education. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/cooperative-education-2018.pdf
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