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From space to the courtroom: 3 real-world curricula that teach life lessons
Experts say hands-on experiences spanning career and civic functions
help students make connections between their educations and the future.
Shawna De La Rosa
Sept. 25, 2019
Curricula connected to the workplace engage students in ways that
traditional sit-and-get instruction can’t. Lessons formed by
organizations outside the classroom offer a deeper understanding of how
learning in the classroom is applied in the real world.
Businesses and organizations are designing teacher-friendly curricula
that can inspire students and perhaps even attract them to specific
fields. The curricula, fortified with state education standards, are
essentially a community service. But if they end up feeding future
workers into given industries — or, in some cases, producing more
civically engaged citizens — it’s worth the effort.
Here are a few examples of curricula developed with the hope of
inspiring students to understand that what they're learning now will
matter later.
Courting students to care about civics
The Ohio Supreme Court recently launched a high school curriculum
program called "Under Advisement: Ohio Supreme Court Cases on Demand."
One of the trials in the curriculum centers around the real-life case
of a 17-year-old girl who died in a car accident. The road on which she
traveled had recently been repaved, and that roadwork turned out to be
a contributing factor in the deadly crash. Her family filed a lawsuit
claiming the county should be held accountable for its negligent repair
of the road. The Ohio Supreme Court was asked to decide if the county
should be held accountable.
In the course, students are taken through the trial step-by-step.
Students formulate questions, think critically and come to their own
conclusions about the case. The four-day lesson plan includes a video
of the entire trial. It has been thoroughly earmarked for teachers'
reference.
"We really tried to break down the oral argument section by section and
explain what questions the attorneys were asking and say what points
the attorneys were trying to get across," said Sara Stiffler,
manager of civic education and outreach programs for the court.
Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor came up with the idea to develop the free curriculum.
"She wanted something that was available for students all over the
state," Stiffler said. "It's free and the teachers can do the
curriculum at their convenience."
Learning can be plane fun
The number of workers entering STEM fields continues to be too few to
fill the available openings, experts say. A report by the New American
Economy Research Fund found there were 13 jobs for every one unemployed
STEM worker.
The Core Plus Aerospace program in Washington is attempting to chip
away at that shortage through its two-year manufacturing curriculum,
which prepares high school participants for jobs in the aerospace and
manufacturing industries.
In the West Valley School District in Yakima, Washington, students as
young as junior high can begin the process through the 270-hour Core
Plus Exploratory program. The junior high program is an early
introduction to the aerospace manufacturing field. In it, students
learn to use equipment like 3D printers and computer numeric control
machines.
"The Core Plus Exploratory program can really connect the students to
the field at a younger age," said Christopher Nesmith, director of
innovation and futures at West Valley School District 208.
Students don't have to test in, they just have to show they want to
participate. "We can bridge any academic gap if they are intrinsically
motivated to learn," he said.
Bottom of Form
That's what the program is all about, he explained. With the ultimate
goal of a good-paying job at the end of school, students see the
benefit in what they are learning. The classic "I'm never going to use
this when I grow up" argument doesn't apply.
The Core Plus Aerospace curriculum allows students to explore potential
career interests and map out the post-high school pathway that best
fits them, said Sara Garrettson, communications director for Washington
Roundtable.
"They come away with the skills needed to work in industry and an
advantage pursuing apprenticeships or aligned certificate and degree
programs," she said. "Ultimately, we want to ensure Washington kids are
prepared for Washington jobs."
Experimenting with futures in space
The Student Spaceflight Experiment Program is another STEM curriculum
initiative that blends science, public speaking, technical writing and
competition skills. The program, offered by the National Center for
Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) and the Arthur C. Clarke
Institute for Space Education, culminates with the opportunity to earn
the chance to send a science experiment into space.
Once in space, astronauts will conduct the experiment in microgravity.
The rigorous process requires students to create well-written,
anti-gravity experiment proposals. Those experiments are subjected to
many selection processes. Ultimately, a few are launched to the
International Space Station.
Mary Courtney, a chemistry teacher and the lead science teacher at East
High School in Rochester, New York, has used this curriculum.
"Offering these types of authentic learning experiences really enhances
students' belief in themselves and their ability to produce high-level
work," she said. "When they know that outside professionals trust them
to produce authentic, high-level science work, they are inspired to do
just that."
The central role of formal education is to prepare our students for the
real world,” said Jeff Goldstein, center director at the NCESSE. “In
STEM fields, students need to understand what is expected of scientists
and engineers. Immersing students in real-world research experiences is
how to do it. It's why this program was created.”
Teaching students about subjects in which they are interested is the
key to engaging them, Nesmith added. "Curriculums that end with
real-world results are intrinsically motivating," he added. "Students
need a purpose for learning. Even teachers hate sitting in professional
development unless they are into what they are listening to."
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