NWC News Desk

Two credit workshops on tap in August for secondary and post-secondary educators

Posted July 15, 2009
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POWELL, Wyo. - Career and technical education get attention in two August workshops that carry Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) credits for educators.

The first, a Career Pathways Leadership Certification Workshop, meets Thursday and Friday, Aug. 6-7. The second, Strategies to Integrate NOW, meets on Wednesday and Thursday the following week, Aug. 12 and 13. Both meet federal Perkins requirements. 

The Career Pathways workshop is free and includes books and lunch on both days. It is led by Debra Mills and Carol Jurgens of the Center for Occupational Research and Development.

They invite teams of community college and other postsecondary, secondary, academic career and technical educators to attend, as well as industry partners. The workshop may be especially helpful for educators who are attempting to implement Career Pathways in the classroom but want direction.

Participants will learn about concrete tools to help students focus on future careers. The material is geared to career technical teachers, academic teachers interested in career-themed education, education and academic integration specialists, education administrators, school guidance and career counselors.

Developed by National Career Pathways Leadership Certification, the workshop is sponsored and presented locally by the Wyoming Department of Education. It meets at the Northwest College DeWitt Student Center Lounge from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday for 15 contact hours. It carries both PTSB and University of Wyoming enrichment credit.

To register, or for more information, call Laramie County Community College at (307) 778-4381. Because seating is limited, early registration is encouraged since previous workshops have filled quickly.

Seth Derner, coauthor of the book "Strategies to Integrate NOW" will lead the Aug. 12-13 workshop of the same name. Derner, a senior consultant with Relevant Classroom, was an innovator in distance education as a career and technical instructor in Nebraska before leading national curriculum efforts for a national youth organization. He also coauthored, "Strategies for Great Teaching: Maximizing Learning Moments."   

Focusing on the need to integrate academic, career and technical education, Derner and his team from Relevant Classroom will discuss the prerequisites to integration while showing how to prepare for, plan, deliver and assess its success. Participants will share examples, define targets, and practice creating lesson activities and implementation plans. The goal is to develop tangible, real-world, complete strategies to help educators make more connections and add relevance to learning.

This workshop, which also carries PTSB credit, meets from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. both days in Room 20 of the Fagerberg Building at Northwest College.

Cost is $100, which includes all materials and lunches. The first 12 enrollees receive a $50 honorarium.

For more information or to register for this workshop, e-mail Stacy Gilman at the NWC Center for Training and Development or call (307) 754-6062 or (800) 560-4692.