Artificial Intelligence is a term that we hear about in today's educational environment. According to research on March 22, 2024, CTE has a positive impact on student outcomes such as academic achievement, high school completion, employability skills, and college readiness in comparison to the students who did not take any CTE courses. It was interesting to read that students who participate in CTE while enrolled in high school are more likely to enroll in a two-year college or to be employed after graduation than those who do not take CTE courses. The research also highlighted CTE's impacts on student achievement in postsecondary education as well as CTE's effect on discipline, attendance, degree attainment, and earnings. The article also discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) will affect jobs, skills, and the changing work environment through the automation of tasks. Most studies have found that AI's effect on employment has been minimal. For more information regarding AI, you can read more from the provided link.
Research Roundup: CTE Student Impacts, Artificial Intelligence, and Sector-based Training Programs
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Part of being an educator is to be aware of changes in policies that have an impact on Career and Technical Education. I have found the CTE Policy Watch Blog beneficial in researching changes and updates. The most recent blog presented data on Career and Technical Education in public education. I found it interesting that the results showed that 86% of high schools reported offering courses and that schools in rural settings were more likely to offer CTE courses. The blog stated that schools that comprised more than 75% of students of color were the least likely to offer CTE courses. It also stated that 62% of public high schools reported having graduation requirements that included college and career milestones. Dual enrollment at our college accounts for about one-fourth of our enrollment which is a large group. Since we offer dual enrollment, this blog helped me to understand why schools in our area are pushing students to take CTE classes with our college. While high schools can check the box that students have reached their requirements for graduation, both the students and the college also benefit. Students are provided with opportunities that may not have been possible at their respective high schools and colleges because of increased enrollment. Based on the information presented in the CTE Policy Watch Blog, dual enrollment creates a win-win situation for all involved.
I have recently attended several dual enrollment meetings for parents of high school students. Dual enrollment is a great opportunity for high school students to earn college credit free while attending high school. The dual-enrollment grant covers tuition, fees, and books. Students can begin taking both academic and technical college courses as sophomores and continue to earn credit throughout their senior year. After leaving the meeting, I thought about the advantages and disadvantages that dual enrollment offers. First, there is a tremendous amount of money that parents can save by encouraging their students to attend college while enrolled in high school. Second, students can earn credit for courses for high school and college at the same time. Next, by taking technical courses while enrolled in high school, students will be able to transition into college life easily after graduation from high school. The fourth advantage is the achievement that students experience. When dual-enrolled students see that they can successfully complete college courses, they become more motivated to attend college. A disadvantage is students not being prepared for college coursework and being pushed to enroll because it is free. I feel that parents as well as high school counselors should evaluate the student's ability before allowing them to register for classes. If the student is not prepared and is unsuccessful, grades will be posted on their college transcript. This could cause problems once the student graduates from high school and decides to continue their education at a community college or a four-year institution. While dual enrollment sounds great, it may not be good for all students.
A skilled workforce is one of the most important factors in economic development in our area. Coastal Alabama offers partnerships with many industries throughout our footprint providing opportunities for students to become a part of our apprenticeship programs. Our apprentices receive on-the-job training in a wide variety of occupations and industries. Some of our opportunities are in health care, construction, information technology, transportation, hospitality and tourism, advanced manufacturing, and industrial systems maintenance.
I have found that Industrial Maintenance students who take advantage of the apprenticeship opportunity finds employment after the completion of the program. Students who are in the apprenticeship program are better prepared for employment because of the hands-on experience they gained while attending college and working at the same time. |
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AuthorI'm the Division Chair and instructor for the Industrial Maintenance Department at Coastal Alabama Community College. Archives
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