Kootenay Lake Educators Leading the Charge in Career Education
By Contributor
Last month, career educators from around the province gathered in the lower mainland for LAUNCH 2018, an annual conference focused on providing strategies and training on preparing students for their futures. Career education teachers and counsellors from every secondary school in the Kootenay lake school district attended, many as participants and some as delegate presenters.
With over 36 workshop topics to choose from, the conference offered participants a variety of ways to add to their personal strategies in supporting the delivery of Career Education in BC. Topics particularly relevant to the strategic goals of the Kootenay Lake School District included; myBlueprint (a digital career prep platform the district is currently implementing), Creating MakerSpaces in learning commons and incorporating the new ADST (Applied Design Skills and Technology) curriculum into many areas of learning throughout the district.
Brent Firkser, Trades Training Coordinator with the SD8 Innovative Learning Services department presented findings on his recent Discover the Trades project that was introduced last year in efforts to incorporate the Design Thinking process into trades training for students. Firkser’s unique approach is being implemented in the district and will introduce students to the trades and skills associated with certain careers.
Career educators Jenn Kidd (LVRogers) and Claire Hewson (Mt. Sentinel Secondary) presented three times to full audiences on the key elements of the new Grade 12 Capstone Project. “We were blown away by the support from not only our school district but other Career Education Teachers from around the province.” said Hewson.
The Capstone project graduation requirement will allow students to demonstrate their learning using an area(s) of interest as the basis for the project, ideally an area they are passionate about and intend to pursue after graduation.
Kidd and Hewson are leading the charge in the province with their initiative and development of a Capstone guidebook for educators. The guidebook will become a valued resource for guidance and career counsellors throughout the province. “It was a lot of fun to collaborate, inspire, share with other teachers.” shared Hewson of her experience as a conference presenter, “I can’t wait to see the end product this year and years to come.”
