Co-op teachers try to find placements that align with student interests, career goals, and/or personal needs. Placement options can be in the trades, agricultural field, medical field, retail, service, military, etc.
Students are free to look for their own placement, many times there are family/personable connections where they can get an 'in'. If students don't have any leads co-op teachers can help.
Students require 440 hours for 4-credit co-op and 220 hours for 2-credit.
This equates to 30 hours/week for 4-credit and 15 hours/week for 2-credit
Over time we co-op teachers have observed, particularly in the trades, employers prefer 4-credit students who can stay longer and can contribute more to the day-to-day activities. Therefore, depending on the job, 4-credit students MAY have more opportunities for placements. This is NOT ALWAYS the case.
Students sign up for co-op in myblueprint.ca just like any other class. There is also an important survey to be filled out that helps us understand your job preference, semester preference, etc.
Students are responsible for their own transportation to-and-from placements. If students do not have transportation co-op may not be possible.
Students spend the first 2 weeks in the classroom working on safety training, paperwork and assignments. Students can potentially start their placement early if all "pre-placement activities" are done.
Yes! Through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) hours spent working in a co-op can count towards an apprenticeship in that field. Students need to let us know ahead of time that they want to do this and it only counts in certain jobs.
There are in-class days about once a month where students learn about relevant, work-related, usable-in-life lessons.
We try to make the experience for employers as pleasant as possible. Co-op teachers need to do a site inspection to ensure students are working in a safe, educationally rich learning environment. Employers are asked to do mid-term evaluations, final evaluations, as well sign off on weekly log sheets.
Yes! Co-op teachers are required to visit students a number of times throughout the semester. This is to ensure the placement is going well for both the student and employer.