A new provincial Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) course has been formally approved by Alberta Education, allowing students in Grades 5-9 to explore limitless aspects of the working world.
Chinook's Edge took hold of the pilot program of studies two years ago, believing that the opportunity to link students with their interests and passions leads not only to career possibilities but also to more engagement in school. The program is comprised of five clusters: Business, Communication, Human Services, Resources and Technology - which are all aligned with the highly successful Career and Technology Studies program at the high school level.
For students at Elnora School, the CTF pathway centred around character education, citizenship and social responsibility. This led them to a number of community activities, from singing with seniors to organizing fundraising events for various charities. The course culminated with a field trip to the Alberta Children's Hospital and the Calgary Drop-In Centre, which proved significant on multiple levels.
"The field trip to the Drop In Centre reminded all of us to not take anything for granted, but it also showed us that sometimes the things we think are problems aren't really that serious," said Josie Wilson, Grade 8. "I learned that even though these are sad places for people to go, they created a happy environment in both places. You could tell they were places they felt safe and cared for. It just all made me see the potential of things."
The entire school was involved in a variety of fundraising projects, which allowed the students to make a donation of $850 to the Children's Hospital while they were visiting. They now refer to the experience as their favourite field trip.
"It means so much to them to feel they are contributing and they are proud to be of service like this," said Jocelyn Pennock, Elnora School teacher. "When you grow up in a small community, you don't always realize the services and resources that are out there, and the huge variety of work they represent. When we looked at the children's artwork at the hospital and toured the Drop In Centre, we saw first-hand that with a focused effort it's possible to build a sense of community and a sense of belonging anywhere. But even beyond that, we had students starting to notice the amazing architecture of the facilities and the work of the health care professionals and the importance of the volunteer coordinators. One visit exposed our students to multiple careers and many layers of learning."
Alberta Education lifted the draft' status of Career and Technology Foundations programming this week, which formalizes the curriculum structure and includes expectations for outcomes. Until now, the optional courses offered in middle grades often had a more narrow scope.
"There are huge benefits to this program," said Caitlin Fox, Learning Services Coordinator with Chinook's Edge. "As a division, it allows us to introduce a range of learning experiences that relate directly to students' interests and skills. They work independently and collaboratively around 14 specific outcomes, and they are measured on growth areas that are structured and clear across all schools. This is a high level of learning that focuses on the process and not the end product. In this way, the course content engages young children in a purposeful and meaningful way. It has totally changed how we approach options in our schools."
