MN West Carl Perkins Consortium CTE News Blog

SMSU students make impact in Jamaica

2012-01-12T10:07:00.005-06:00

Students from SMSU's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program made a trip to Faith's Pen, Jamaica over their Christmas break to help residents learn about safe business practices. SMSU students and faculty helped restore business fronts and taught safe cooking techniques to residents who hope to improve their business skills.

2012 Camps to Careers Sites Announced

2012-01-12T09:53:00.011-06:00

Camps to Careers offers a unique opportunity to explore and prepare for exciting, high-wage careers. The program lets high school students and recent graduates "try on" a career through hands-on projects on the shop floor or college classroom. Participants also receive resources and guidance to take the next steps in their career development.

Camp 1: DENTISTRY
Location: Canby - Minnesota West CTC
June 19, 2012
8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Camp 2: HEALTH CARE
Location: Luverne - Minnesota West CTC
June 21, 2012
8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

All activities of Minnesota Camps to Careers – including lunch each day – are offered at no cost to participants thanks to the following partners: SW MN Private Industry Council, SW/WC Service Cooperative, Southwest Initiative Foundation and Minnesota West Community and Technical College.

For more information, contact:
Eriann Faris • Sr. Youth Program Coordinator
SW MN Private Industry Council
efaris@swmnpic.org
Phone: 507-537-6236.

2010-11 Perkins Data Collection Site Open

2012-01-12T09:43:00.006-06:00

All schools receiving Carl Perkins funds are expected to download their district's data files. The reports are available for download from January 5- March 22. Please download your files and mail or email a copy of the reports to me. You must also save all reports in case of a district Perkins audit. If you need directions for downloading the reports, please contact me. Gail, 507-537-2273

Demand is There, But Tech Classes Cut

2012-01-12T09:30:00.007-06:00

A recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune outlines the realities facing technical programs in Minnesota. With the climbing price of college, high school students are enrolling in career and technical classes at an unprecedented rate, yet funds continue to be cut.

Read the full article here: http://www.startribune.com/local/east/136631848.html

Minnesota West Board of Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Teaching

2012-01-10T08:37:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to Rob Arp, this year’s Minnesota West Board of Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Teaching nominee. Rob will represent the college this spring at the awards ceremonies.

Articulated College Credits

2011-12-09T15:56:00.008-06:00

The Southern Minnesota Articulated College Credit Project represents the cooperation of 8 Carl Perkins Consortia and 17 post-secondary campuses across southern Minnesota. This project provides students in participating high schools the opportunity to earn college credit for classes they take in high school. These credits are earned at no cost to the school district or student and can be redeemed at several post-secondary campuses upon admission to the school. The certificates are generally for entry-level college courses and allow students to get credit without taking the course if they have successfully completed the requirements while in high school.

Over fifty articulated college credit certificates are available for issue to schools in the Minnesota West Consortium. Approximately 2,500 college credit certificates are issued to high school CTE students in the Partnership annually.

Click on the link to view courses available for Articulated College Credit or to establish an account to request certificates. www.lifetimeoflearning.com/techprep/

Learning That Works

2011-12-09T15:43:00.009-06:00

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has launched a campaign to encourage more students to explore and enroll in CTE programs. The Learning That Works campaign is part of a nationwide initiative called "Career Technical Education: Learning That Works for America." Radio announcements have already hit the airwaves and a new website highlights CTE programs offered by MnSCU and the state's public high schools.

The http://www.learningthatworks.org/ website offers information about preparing for college and career, contains useful facts about CTE occupations and highlights stories about real students in CTE programs.

CTE Statistics

2011-12-09T15:32:00.005-06:00

The National Center for Education Statistics has released its High School Career/Technical Education Participation Web Tables. The set of six tables presents information on the participation of public high school graduates of the class of 2009 in career/technical education (CTE). The tables include the percentage of graduates who earned credits in CTE overall, as well as in various occupational areas within CTE, and the average number of credits earned in CTE and in occupational areas. Three tables focus on graduates in 2009, and three tables look at participation trends from 1990 to 2009. To view the new CTE web tables, visit: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ctes/tables/index.asp?LEVEL=SECONDARY

Student Competitions

2011-11-18T14:10:00.010-06:00

Digital Photography Competition
March 29, 2012
SW/WC Service Cooperative
Marshall, MN

8th Annual Culinary Skills Challenge
April 12, 2012
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN

Best iPad Apps

2011-11-18T13:39:00.004-06:00

Here's a link to a site that has rated some of the best iPad apps available. The prices are listed in pounds, but free still means free! http://livebinders.com/play/play/26195

Data Driven Improvement

2011-11-18T13:23:00.009-06:00

Several Minnesota West consortium teachers will be attending CTEDDI training over the next several months. Career and Technical Educators Using a Data Driven Improvement (CTEDDI) is a professional development model that will provide educators with the professional development intended to increase their knowledge and skills in the use and interpretation of assessment data for the purpose of making instructional improvements.

The model focuses on the direct development of CTE educators’ skills in using assessment data to guide program improvement and contribute to improved student outcomes. This training will be provided by the University of Lousville's National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE).

Minnesota intends for the CTEDDI professional development project to be part of an on-going process for implementing and sustaining the use of technical skill assessments (TSA) to influence continued improvement in secondary and postsecondary CTE programs. If you are interested in the project, please contact us. More information will follow.

Fulda FCCLA Program Wins!

2011-11-18T12:54:00.006-06:00

Taylor Schletter and Siera Steiner from Fulda, along with their advisor, Marcine Elder, traveled to Washington, D.C. this past summer to accept a national award from the American Cleaning Association. The girls partnered with the Mayo Clinic to work with elementary students to teach proper hand washing techniques through their "Have U Washed UR Hands" project. Congratulations!

Congratulations to Ortonville's BPA Program

2011-11-18T11:36:00.006-06:00

Ortonville High School's BPA team of Colin Plathe, Tate Messmer, Dan Berdan and Charlie Taffe brought home the first place award for computer Animation at the 2011 Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 7th. The Computer Animation topic this year was to design a super hero character and an animation that depicts his/her heroism. The team used 3dx- Max software to develop their project, along with Premiere Pro, chroma-key technology, After Effects, and Audition.

Other Ortonville students placing as finalists in their events were Rachel Berger in Digital Media – 4th place and Shane Maas in Payroll Accounting. Other OHS students attending were Isaac Knutson, competing in Basic Office Systems, and Bonnie Sue Stolpman, Region 8 President. Congratulation to advisor, Julie Kunde, and her students!

Career Expo 2012

2011-11-18T11:29:00.003-06:00

Dates for the 2012 Career Expo have been set! Mark your calendars to attend SMSU on September 25 or Minnesota West on September 26, 2012.

Like Us!

2011-11-18T10:45:00.005-06:00

The SW/WC Service Cooperative is now on Facebook! Check us out at http://www.facebook.com/SWWCSC.

See It, Learn It, Be It

2011-10-19T10:05:00.014-05:00

You’ve heard about Minnesota West's great programs, now is the time for students to experience them! * Tour a campus* Shadow one or even two technical programs* Meet faculty, staff, and students...ask questions and get real answers* Experience college life before becoming a college student

Register online at http://www.mnwest.edu/campuses/seeit/ or call: Canby Campus - (507) 223-7252; Granite Falls Campus - (320) 564-5000; Jackson Campus - (507) 847-7920; Pipestone Campus - (507) 825-6800

Schedule:
9:30 a.m. Welcome/Registration Info
10:00 a.m. Shadowing Session #1
11:00 a.m. Shadowing Session #2
12:00 p.m. Lunch (provided by Minnesota West)
12:30 p.m. Campus Tour

Jackson Campus - OCT. 13, 2011
Administrative Assistant, Automotive Technology, Computer Engineering Technology, Computer Maintenance Repair, Cosmetology/Esthetician/Manicurist, Electrician, Electric Utility Substation Technology, Networking Specialist, Power Sports Technology, Powerline Technology, Telecommunications

Pipestone Campus - Nov. 3, 2011
Carpentry, Cosmetology/Esthetician/Manicurist, Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning/Refrigeration, Nursing, Plumbing Technology

Granite Falls Campus - Nov. 8, 2011
Accounting & Administrative Assistant, Auto Body, Biofuels Technology, Child Development, Computer Support, Energy Technical Specialist, Fluid Power Technology, Telecommunications

Canby Campus - Nov. 15, 2011
Dental Assisting, Diesel Technology, Electrician, Wind Energy Technology

Secondary GPS LifePlan

2011-10-19T09:58:00.007-05:00

Created by Century College in 2006, the GPS LifePlan is a holistic program designed to help students plan for their futures. The program focuses on five areas of development: Career, Education, Finance, Leadership and Personal. In each area, users are encouraged to assess their needs, set goals, and create plans to move them in the direction of achieving their goals. This program has the flexibility to be used by students of all ages and at all stages. Explore the website for more information about the 5 Plans!

Southwest Minnesota Careers Website

2011-10-19T08:58:00.009-05:00

Many job seekers in Southwest Minnesota are unaware of the opportunities available to them right here in our region. The Southwest Minnesota Careers website is designed to guide job seekers through the process of regional career exploration, leading to the skills, training, local knowledge, and the employment opportunities required to be successful in the regional job market. Visit SW MN Careers today!

If you are looking for a career search activity for your students, try the SW MN Careers webquest search by clicking here.

Minnesota West Earns recognition as Top 10 Digital Community College

2011-10-17T11:26:00.006-05:00

e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education and Converge Online recently announced winners in the seventh annual Digital Community Colleges Survey. The survey documents advances made by community colleges in utilizing information technology and recognizes which colleges are providing a high level of service to their faculty, students, and communities as a result.

The survey looked at technology integration into college curriculum and campus life, documenting use of online admissions processes, distance education, technology training for students and faculty, campus security alerts, use of Web 2.0 social and collaborative capabilities as well as online tutoring and advisory services. Use of mobile devices was also a key indicator of success.

Online Manufacturing Job Fair

2011-10-17T08:03:00.005-05:00

To recognize the value of manufacturing to Minnesota's economy, and to salute those who play important roles in the industry, iSeek Solutions and partnering agencies will conduct an "Online Career Fair" during Manufacturing Week, October 24-28, 2011, totally dedicated to the manufacturing industry. Students, job seekers, and others will have the opportunity to learn about careers in this field directly from manufacturing employers and industry experts, through webinars, live chats, and discussion forums.

Pre-register online

View the flyer

Introducing MNGreenCareers.org

2011-09-12T13:30:00.005-05:00

Do you have students interested in exploring green careers? ISEEK offers free print materials and a dedicated website for them. ISEEK.org is Minnesota's career, education and job resource on line. MnGreenCareers.org, details the newest research on green careers, education, and jobs in Minnesota.

You will find definitions, information on typical green careers, green training and education at Minnesota schools, and where a green career can lead, as well as research on the green economy. The site includes quizzes, career videos, and Minnesota-specific resources, appropriate for the classroom, workshops, and research projects.

Visit MnGreenCareers.org to order free brochures, posters, fact sheets, and to learn more about green careers.

Grants Available for Schools to Integrate Environmental and Outdoor Education

2011-09-09T14:58:00.004-05:00

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has announced a request for proposals from Minnesota schools committed to integrating environmental and outdoor education into grades 7-12. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2011. Teams of teachers from an anticipated six schools will be selected to receive up to $5,000 in mini-grants and several days of free training from Minnesota environmental and outdoor education experts over the next two years. This funding is for the purpose of designing and implementing innovative environmental and outdoor education programs that bolster student achievement in middle school or high school science, physical education, social studies and/or mathematics.

Application materials, including more details on the program, are available on the MDE website. Contact Jeff Ledermann at 651-582-8602 or jeff.ledermann@state.mn.us for further information on this funding opportunity.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

College Credit/ Articulation Meetings

2011-09-09T14:04:00.005-05:00

The Southern Minnesota Articulated College Credit Project is a cooperative effort of 8 Carl Perkins Consortia and 17 college campuses across southern Minnesota. The project is intended to provide high school students the opportunity to earn college credit for classes they take in high school. These credits are earned at no cost to the school district or student and can be redeemed at several post-secondary campuses upon admission to the school. Certificates are reviewed biennially to ensure the established competencies are agreeable to both secondary and post-secondary instructors.

This year the following certificates will be reviewed:
October 28- Web Programming I and Intro to Programming
November 4- Child Development, Family & Community Development & Basic Cooking Principles
November 18- Basic Sales Techniques, Intro to Business, Principles of Marketing, and Entrepreneurship
December 2- Introduction to Engineering, Parametric Design, AutoCAD, and Digital Electronic

The Minnesota West Carl Perkins consortium will pay transportation and sub fees for the first 3 teachers who indicate an interest for each meeting.

Local Perkins Applications Are Available

2011-09-09T13:37:00.004-05:00

Applications to receive Perkins funds from the Minnesota West Carl Perkins Consortium have been sent to the designated contact at each school. Please schedule an appointment for a visit or listen to the presentation on our website.

Teachers attend Green Building Workshop

2011-09-09T09:57:00.005-05:00

Introducing students to new concepts starts with introducing their teachers. On June 9, the Minnesota West Carl Perkins Consortium provided a staff development workshop on “Green Building Science” for eleven high school teachers. The workshop was taught by John Dahle, Carpentry Instructor at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, and focused on sustainable construction and building performance. Attendees received instructional supplies, curriculum, and equipment to be used to teach a unit on sustainable construction emphasizing energy audits.

Dates for Fall Teacher Meetings Set

2011-09-09T09:35:00.004-05:00

Save the dates for the annual consortium teacher meetings! Registration infomation will be available soon.

The Business Teacher meeting we be held October 4 at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Family Consumer Science teachers will meet November 16 at the Service Cooperative office in Marshall.

Local Teachers receive ACTE Teacher of the Year Awards

2011-09-09T09:29:00.005-05:00

Candidates from the six states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin) competed in three categories at the ACTE Region III Conference, June 13-15 in Terra Haute, Indiana. Two of the top awards were received by Minnesota West Consortium members.

Congratulations to. . . .

Teacher of the Year: A teacher who is providing outstanding CTE programs for youth and/or adults in their respective field and communications.
Tom Appel, Agriculture Teacher, Mountain Lake High School

Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher: A new teacher who has made significant contributions to CTE and ACTE.
T.J. Brown, Agriculture Teacher, Springfield High School

Minnesota’s award winners now advance to compete at the ACTE National Conference, November 17-19 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Green Building Workshop

2011-05-06T15:40:00.003-05:00

The Minnesota West Carl Perkins Consortium has received funding to provide a staff development workshop on “Green Building Science” for high school teachers with construction programs. The workshop will be taught by John Dahle, Carpentry Instructor at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, and will focus on sustainable construction and building performance.

Green Building is a growing trend among homebuilders and incorporates a whole building design approach into every phase of the building process, including design, construction, energy, water efficiency, and lot development. All this is done to minimize negative impacts on the community, occupants, and natural environment.

The training will be held June 9 on the Pipestone Campus- home to Minnesota West's Carpentry program. Attendees will receive instructional supplies, curriculum, and equipment valued at several hundred dollars that can be used to teach a unit on sustainable construction with an emphasis on energy audits. Mileage reimbursement (for instructors of approved programs), meals, and CEUs will also be available.

The Minnesota West Consortium has recently completed articulation agreements for several construction courses and will be designing a Program of Study in the Construction pathway that links secondary and post-secondary during the 2011-2012 school year.

2011 College Level Accounting

2011-05-02T11:18:00.004-05:00

The Registration Deadline for the College Level Accounting training for teachers has been extended! For more information visit www.mbei-online.org. The Minnesota West consortium can pay expenses for teachers with approved programs. Please contact Gail as soon as possible if you are interested.

Youth Housing Career Camp

2011-05-02T11:17:00.002-05:00

A Youth Housing Careers Day Camp will be held May 24, 25 and 26 at Southwest Minnesota State University. The camp is designed to allow participants an opportunity to explore careers in the housing industry and to learn about money management. Participants will tour businesses, a college, a bank, and complete a service-learning project.

Participants must be entering at least 9th grade in the fall of 2011. Camp will run from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. each day. Transportation, meals and snacks, supplies, and incentives are offered free of charge. Buses will transport students to the various sites. A detailed schedule with exact times and locations will be sent to students after acceptance into the program. Please contact Ethan at the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership at 507-696-4025 with any questions about the camp.

Technical Skills Challenge

2011-04-27T15:57:00.004-05:00

Sparks were flying and wheels were spinning, both figuratively and literally at the 9th annual Technical Skills Challenge held at Minnesota West in Pipestone April 6 as area high school students participated in welding, solar sprint car, problem solving, and digital photography competitions. Over 70 students from Canby, Dawson-Boyd, Pipestone, Renville County West, R-T-R, Worthington, and Yellow Medicine East high schools participated.

Minnesota West and the SW/WC Service Cooperative team up each year to offer competitions where students can display their talents in a creative and competitive environment. The competitions are judged and designed by industry professionals and college instructors in order to give students a realistic glimpse into exciting career fields. The competitions often have the added benefit of being a classroom project.

To see more pictures of the events and this year's winners, visit www.lifetimeoflearning.com.

Culinary Skills Challenge

2011-04-27T15:35:00.004-05:00

In the U.S. alone, consumers spend approximately $1 trillion annually on food. Agriculture, food processing, food transportation and food retail provide an abundance of valuable jobs in southwest Minnesota. Some of the future food industry leaders gathered on March 31st at the Marshall High School to compete in such areas as: Baking Science, Food Art, Cooking, Cake Decorating, Garnishing, Table Setting, Knife Skills and Menu Design.

In addition to the competitions, students and teachers had an opportunity to learn from top chefs and industry professionals through interactive seminars including: Nutritious and Delicious Healthy Eating Tips, Garnishing and Buffet Presentations, Spice Up Your Meals, Fun with Fondant, Pork-from Farm to Table, and Napkin Folding/Place Setting. This was the 6th year of the Culinary Skills Challenge and the event is gaining popularity every year. In fact, this year the event drew participants from as far away as Shakopee, MN. In total, over 250 students, teachers, judges, and presenters participated in competitions and seminars.

The event will return to the Southwest Minnesota State University Campus next year. Check out the www.LifetimeofLearning.com website for pictures of this year’s event and look for the event date for 2012. We hope to see you there!

Project Discovery Has a New Home

2011-03-24T10:54:00.009-05:00

Project Discovery is our State-Approved, Transition Disabled Program that provides career exploration and interest and work/learning style assessments for over 170 special population high school students each year. After several recent moves, Project Discovery has settled into it's new home at the Service Cooperative in Marshall. In additional to providing more than 40 hands-on career assessments, Project Discovery has added an efficiency apartment in order to provide independent living skills assessments.

Minnesota Business Venture

2011-03-23T11:23:00.006-05:00

Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) is a FUN, week-long residential program designed to introduce high school students to the business world through first-hand experiences. The students live on the college campus, meet numerous business leaders, and listen to knowledgeable speakers from various companies. MBV shows students how to apply marketing, entrepreneurship, investing, leadership skills and much more to life, school and future careers. MBV is an outstanding enhancement on college and job applications.

Offered this summer at St. Cloud State University (July 10-15) or St. John’s University (July 24-29), the fee to attend is only $125, which includes room and board ($175 after April 22nd). The fee to attend is kept low thanks to individuals, foundations and companies who are hoping Southwest Minnesota students attend MBV this summer. The 2011 Minnesota Business Venture application and brochure, and a short video are available at on BestPrep’s website, www.bestprep.org. Questions can be directed to Janae Olinger, MBV Associate at jolinger@bestprep.org or 763-398-0090 ext. 231.

If you can think of any students who would enjoy this summer program, please share the information with them. 99% of last year’s participants would recommend MBV to another student!

KidWind Offers Free Educator Wind Workshop

2011-03-23T11:02:00.005-05:00

KidWind will be offering a free workshop to the first 30 teachers who register for their Educator Wind Workshop April 2 in St. Paul.

The workshop will cover many STEM based activities and lessons to help teachers understand the science behind one of the fastest growing energy sources in the world. It is open to ANY educators.

In this hands-on course, teachers will build and test classroom-scale windmills that lift weights and wind turbines that produce electricity. These wind turbines will be built using simple materials like PVC pipe, DC motors, balsa, and coroplast. Teachers can keep all the turbines they build.

All teachers will leave with some basic curricular materials and a basic turbine kit. About a $70 value!

REGISTER HERE >> http://learn.kidwind.org/workshops_events/state/minnesota/event/1521

Technology Integration Workshop

2011-03-21T14:37:00.004-05:00

Best Prep's Technology Integration Workshop is a four-day, professional development opportunity that assists educators in learning new technologies and integrating them into their curriculum. For educators and students, technology is an essential part of the curriculum. The Technology Integration Workshop was created to provide the resources, strategies and education to help teachers integrate new technologies into the classroom.

At the workshop, educators learn how existing and emerging technologies can be used to enhance the effectiveness of lessons and the overall engagement of the students. Teachers gain an increased level of technological literacy, through first hand and hands-on experience.

This year's workshop will be held August 1-4 at the University of St. Thomas. To take advantage of the early registration discount, register by April 15. You can register online at www.bestprep.org.

From Here to Career Webtool

2011-03-21T08:08:00.004-05:00

From Here to Career is a new website designed for high school students that offers resources to help them prepare for college. The resources are grade specific and include assessments, budget and scholarship information, help with school searches and study help. It pulls some of the best resources from a variety of sites into one comprehensive college planning tool.
http://www.fromheretocareer.com

Adult Basic Education

2011-02-28T13:08:00.002-06:00

The Adult Basic Education programs in our area are vital to the region's economic development. They work with Workforce Service Areas, Workforce Centers, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the Department of Employment and Economic Development and others to formulate solutions to the workforce needs of employers. Insuring successful transitions to post-secondary training and education is one of their priorities. To see all that's going on at your local ABE office, visit their website- http://southwestabe.org

Harvard Pathways to Prosperity Report

2011-02-28T12:45:00.002-06:00

The recently released Pathways to Prosperity Project from the Harvard Graduate School of Education suggests several failures to the current education system and suggestions of how to meet the challenge of preparing young Americans for the 21st Century. Career and Technical Education is viewed as part of the solution.

Click here to view the report:

http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2011/Pathways_to_Prosperity_Feb2011.pdf

27th Annual Day of Excellence Conference

2011-02-28T12:42:00.002-06:00

New Visions in Technology Relating to Education
Monday March 7, 2011
8:15 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Southwest Minnesota State University

Keynote Presenter: Kevin Honeycutt

Please click the following link for more information & to register.
http://scweb.swsc.org/swsc_online_registration/reg_workshop.aspx?wid=1035&Digest=83HJpl56+tHVXOltf8tSpw

The Stock Market Game

2011-02-28T12:38:00.002-06:00

The Stock Market Game is an online investing simulation that gives students a virtual $100,000 to invest in the stock market. The program helps students better understand business, investing and the American economy and can be used in all subject areas including math, social studies and gifted and talented programs.

Students work in small groups, which helps develop teamwork, critical thinking and decision making skills. The program is not only educational, but is also engaging – students are INVOLVED in their learning. Teachers have access to an extensive database of lessons and projects to accompany the program.

Contact Rachel Schwalbach (763-398-0090 x235 or rschwalbach@bestprep.org) with questions.

LifeSkills Event

2011-02-28T12:29:00.002-06:00

The annual Lifeskills event will be held for high school juniors at Southwest Minnesota State University on March 30, 2011. Regional Labor Market Analyst, Cameron Macht, will speak to students about "Why College is Important." Additional breakout sessions will include: Choosing Your College, Funding Your College Experience, and Navigating the Admission Process.

Contact Kati Birhanzl at the Private Industry Council for more information and to register. kbirhanzl@swmnpic.org or 320-269-5561.

Save Perkins

2011-02-28T11:17:00.004-06:00

Legislation being proposed in Washington looks to cut the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act by eliminating its Tech Prep program. This elimination results in a significant loss of career and technical education funding to all states and districts and will impact the ability of education institutions to provide students the skills needed in today’s workplace. In Minnesota, the tech prep allocation is combined with the federal allocation from the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Passage of this bill would mean a cut of over $1.7 million in Tech Prep funds to Minnesota or about an 8% reduction in allocation to colleges and school districts.

Call your representative and senators today to tell them what the Perkins funding means to your students and to the US workforce. Phone numbers for your US Representative and US Senators can be found at http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/

Give away item- Pen Plotter

2011-02-28T11:04:00.003-06:00

One of our consortium member schools has a ROLAND DXY1150 pen plotter that they are no longer using. If you can give it a good home, just let me know and I will connect you with them for more details.

Technical Skills Challenge

2011-01-19T10:32:00.005-06:00

Competition guidelines and registration information is now available for the 2011 Technical Skills Challenge. This year's event will be held April 6 at Minnesota West-Pipestone Campus. The Technical Skills Challenge offers high school students a venue to show their skills and creativity in a fun, hands-on competition. All competitions are designed and judged by industry professionals.

Choose the Technical Skills Challenge button at www.lifetimeoflearning.com for more information.

This year's events are:
Cell Phone Showdown
Digital Photography
Solar Sprint Car
Welding- Individual and Team
Wind Energy

Vote for our Solar Car Video!

2011-01-19T10:08:00.006-06:00

The Minnesota West Perkins Consortium submitted a video for the CERTs 2011 Clean + Green Video Shorts Contest. Our video is of the Solar Sprint Car races at the 2010 Technical Skills Challenge held in Canby last spring. Voting has started and will continue until midnight on Monday, January 31, 2011. Head to http://videocontest.mncerts.org/ to vote for our video! (Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.) First place is $500 that we can use to make improvements to the Technical Skills Challenge competitions.

Guideposts for Success

2011-01-19T09:58:00.004-06:00

The transition from youth to adulthood is challenging for almost every young person. This is particularly true for young people with disabilities. Yet, it is in those crucial transition-age years that a young person's future can be determined. The Guideposts for Success are what research tells us all youth, including youth with disabilities, need to succeed. The Guideposts can help steer families, institutions and youth themselves through the transition processes. To learn more visit http://www.ncwd-youth.info/topic/guideposts

Camps to Careers

2011-01-19T09:54:00.001-06:00

Camps to Careers will be offering an opportunity for students in grades 9-12 to explore and prepare for stimulating and high-wage Renewable Energy careers through hands-on projects in college classrooms and local businesses.

Regional camps will be held on the Canby Campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College focusing on Wind Energy June 14-16 of 2011 and on the Granite Falls Campus focusing on Bio Fuels June 21-23 of 2011.

To view the flyer and print an application, click here:
https://sites.google.com/site/swmncampstocareers/home

Free Poster

2011-01-19T09:48:00.003-06:00

The "Cooperation" poster listed in last month's blog is still available and still FREE! This is a leftover poster from our Project Discovery move. The poster is approximately 5' x 6'. Let me know if you can give it a home.

Articulated College Credit

2010-12-15T12:40:00.004-06:00

The Southern Minnesota Articulated College Credit Project is a cooperative effort of 8 Carl Perkins Consortia and 17 college campuses across Southern Minnesota. The project is intended to provide high school students the opportunity to earn college credit for classes they take in high school. These credits are earned at no cost to the school district or student and can be redeemed at several post-secondary campuses upon admission to the school.

Take some time to view the available certificates and corresponding competencies students must meet. Teachers can request a certificate for their students by simply registering on the site. If you have any questions about requesting certificates, please contact us.

http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/techprep/?163310221105432970Nav=|&NodeID=761

Day of Excellence Conference

2010-12-15T12:27:00.003-06:00

Mark Your Calendars…

The 27TH ANNUAL DAY OF EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE

“Technology in Education with the Integration of Special Education & General Education”

Monday March 7, 2011
8:15 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Southwest Minnesota State University

This year’s focus will be on New Visions in Technology Relating to Education.

Detailed Conference Information will be available in January 2011.

Sponsored by:
The SW/WC Service Cooperatives: Low Incidence Project and Division of Teaching & Learning Services
MN Department of Education
R-CSPD

Project Discovery

2010-12-15T12:05:00.002-06:00

Project Discovery is a State-Approved Transition Disabled Program that provides career exploration and assessment opportunities for special population high school students. Students come to the career exploration lab in Marshall to receive interest and work/learning style assessments and explore careers through more than 40 career exploration projects. If your school hasn't scheduled a visit for the 2010-11 school year yet, call Patty or Jan at 507-537-2254.

CTE Advisory Committees

2010-12-15T10:49:00.005-06:00

Please remember to save your agendas and minutes from your advisory committee meetings. They will prove helpful if your school is chosen as a site to be monitored in the future. If you need help getting your committee back on track, access the CTE Advisory Committee Handbook at www.lifetimeoflearning.com.

Cooperation Poster

2010-12-15T10:43:00.003-06:00

If you have a space for this poster, please let me know. It's approximately 5' x 6' and totally free!

Area Teachers Learn About TIG Welding

2010-11-24T12:50:00.005-06:00

Representatives from Miller Welding and American Welding and Gas provided a training to twenty-three area welding teachers on TIG welding at the Marshall High School on November 3.

TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding is a specialized process in which a tungsten electrode heats the metal being welded and Argon gas protects the weld puddle from airborne contaminants. TIG welding produces clean, precise welds on any metal making it the welding method of choice in many industry settings.

The presentation by Mark Salz from Miller can be found under "Consortium Forms/Resources" at the www.lifetimeoflearning.com website.

Special thanks to Alter Metal and Recycling of Marshall for supplying the materials for the training.

2010-11-24T12:14:00.004-06:00

The Cooperative Purchasing program at the SW/WC Service Cooperative is designed to help schools fulfill their purchasing needs while saving time and money. All of the vendor agreements are the result of formal bids or negotiated contracts. By partnering with reputable vendors and combining the purchasing power of service cooperative members, you receive a wide variety of high quality products and services with excellent volume discounts.

Contact the Cooperative Purchasing team at 507-537-2279 or click here to log-in to the Cooperative Purchasing site if you have any questions or would like additional information. http://www.swsc.org/16331022111453257/site/default.asp

Presentations Available on Website

2010-11-24T11:15:00.004-06:00

We have added a new section to our website to include information presented at our staff trainings. Go to www.lifetimeoflearning.com and choose the "Consortium Forms/Resources" button to view the PowerPoint presentations from the TIG Welding training and FACS Annual Meeting. Additional presentations will be added as we receive them.

Project C3

2010-11-24T11:09:00.006-06:00

Project C3 is an online resource that provides critical transition information for ALL students (and their parents and teachers) in Minnesota. The goal of Project C3 is to improve transition outcomes for youth after high school in preparation for employment or post-secondary through training, advocacy, facilitated system collaborations, and resource mapping. Many families are unaware of various program and services available to teens and young adults in their community and this can be challenging when transitioning from high school to the adult world of postsecondary education, employment, and independent living.

Please take a few moments to check out the C3 website at: www.c3online.org. The site’s searchable transition resource database was recently updated for the 18 county region of southwest and west central Minnesota through a Capacity Building Grant through the Minnesota Department of Education.

Project C3: Connecting Youth to Communities and Careers is a partnership among several Minnesota state agencies and PACER Center, a parent training and information center serving Minnesota families of children and youth with disabilities. Partners include the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's (DEED) Vocational Rehabilitation program and the Minnesota Department of Education.

Camps To Careers

2010-11-24T11:01:00.006-06:00

Films for Your Classroom

2010-11-24T10:53:00.003-06:00

If you are looking for a site to access films to use in your classroom, take a look at SnagFilms.com. You can watch full-length documentary films for free. There are currently over 1500 films in the library for you to access. View a sample here:
http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/amazon_land_of_the_flooded_forest/

Tell Us What You Are Up To!

2010-10-25T11:34:00.006-05:00

We know we have some of the most creative teachers and talented kids in the state in our schools, and we'd love to show them off. If you have students or programs you'd like highlighted in the CTE News Blog, please send me pictures and some information and I'd be happy to include them.

Regional Articulation Meetings

2010-10-25T10:36:00.007-05:00

The Southern Minnesota Regional College Credit Consortium will continue biennial updates to existing regional articulation agreements. If you are interested in being part of the negotiation process and reviewing the certificate guidelines, please register online at http://www.mnscsc.org/. Click the “events” link on the left side of the page and scroll down to find the correct meeting.

Certificates to be reviewed this fall include:
Business Education- October 29
Auto Service and Machining- November 5
Agriculture- November 5
Graphic Arts- November 19

Discussion will involve alignment of course objectives for articulation and assessment of student learning. You may want to bring copies of your course syllabi.

***The MN West Perkins consortium will pay mileage and sub fees for the first three teachers who contact me for each meeting.

Career Expo Has Biggest and Best Year Yet

2010-10-21T11:32:00.016-05:00

On September 28th and 29th 1,854 high school sophomores from 31 schools participated in the annual Southwest Minnesota Career Expo at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall and at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington. The Expo has become a popular means for high school students in the region to gain first-hand information about a wide variety of careers, especially careers in southwest Minnesota.

During the expo, students visited with over 60 employers, college program representatives, and community organizations who prepared interactive career exhibits. The exhibits gave students the opportunity to experience work tasks from a variety of jobs and to ask questions of industry professionals. Students also participated in a Career Game Show that proved to be an effective, fast-paced and fun way for students to learn about careers and education planning.

Follow this link to view pictures of the 2010 Career Expo.
http://studentactivitiesphotogallery.shutterfly.com/371

Win a Solar Charging Kit for Your iPod or Camera

2010-10-21T11:19:00.005-05:00

CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Teams) and MnSCC (Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon) are giving away FIVE Soldius1 Charging Kits (worth $99) to students whose parents buy and install a Honeywell programmable thermostat. ALL students are eligible! Here's how to register:

1. Buy and install the thermostat.

2.Take a photo of the newly installed thermostat (preferably include a student or two in the picture).

3. Email the photo (or a copy of the receipt if a camera is inaccessible), name, school, and phone number to contest@cleanenergyresourceteams.org

4. The drawing will be held in December. You will need a proof of purchase if you win, so make sure to keep the receipt!

Win up to $15,000 for teaching students about entrepreneurship

2010-10-21T11:14:00.005-05:00

The Leavey Awards
Organization: Freedoms Foundation

Eligibility: Full-time educator at K-12 or higher education level
Grant Value: Up to 20 awards of $7,500 with the possibility of one $15,000 award
Grant Deadline: Tuesday November 30th, 2010

Since 1977, the Freedoms Foundation and the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation have honored outstanding teachers for bringing passion and creativity to their classrooms as they teach students about entrepreneurship and the free enterprise system.

The awards program recognizes educators at the elementary, junior high school, high school, and college levels for innovative and effective techniques in teaching entrepreneurship and the free enterprise education. Up to twenty cash awards are made annually valued at $7,500 each. One meritorious award of $15,000 may be made for an outstanding entry. To date, the program has recognized nearly 500 teachers from across the country and awarded over $3 million.
Contact: http://www.freedomsfoundation.org/Leavy-Awards.cfm

Conference For Young Artists

2010-09-10T14:22:00.008-05:00

The annual Conference for Young Artists will be held October 12 at Southwest Minnesota State University. The conference for students in grades K-8 will feature a keynote presentation and hands-on classes on a variety of topics in the areas of visual and performing arts. Students will try their hand at activities such as watercolor, drawing, pottery making, wire sculpture, making glass beads, scrapbooking, etc. Students will be entertained by Sean Emery- profession juggler and clown.

Click here for more information.
http://www.swsc.org/163310221105157983/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=54465

MCIS Training

2010-09-10T12:54:00.009-05:00

The Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) offers free hands-on training workshops throughout the state. If you are school staff and have not attended a MCIS workshop in the past couple of years, this workshop is highly recommended. There are many new and exciting enhancements that have been added to the system.

To register - please click on the links below or cut and paste the appropriate link into your browser for the specific date and location you wish to attend.
PLEASE NOTE: THESE WORKSHOPS FILL QUICKLY AND ARE FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. Please print out your confirmation after registering. Email reminders will be sent a few work days prior to the event. Workshops will be a full day, 8:00-3:30.

Tues, Sept 21-Alexandria Technical College-Alexandria MN
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22B6CZ88P26

Thurs, Sept 30-Yellow Medicine East High School-Granite Falls MN
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22B6JNPC5TP

Wed, Oct 13-SW/WC Service Cooperative-Marshall MN
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22B6JSJC86T

2009-2010 Highlight Video

2010-09-10T11:48:00.015-05:00

The 2009-2010 school year was filled with exciting conferences, projects, and activities for students throughout the consortium. Take a minute to view our highlight video, there may be someone in there you know!

mms://scstream.swsc.org/StudentActivities_Promo_2010/2009-10 highlights video.wmv

*Apple Users can download a QuickTime Plugin allowing you to play Windows Media Player Files: Flip4Mac or download Windows Media Player for Max OSX

MN College Credit /Articulation Workshops

2010-09-09T08:02:00.004-05:00

The Southern Minnesota Regional College Credit Consortium will continue the process of updating existing regional articulation agreements. Regional agreements are reviewed every other year.

Certificates to be reviewed this fall include:
Business Education- October 29
Auto Service and Machining- November 5
Agriculture- November 5
Graphic Arts- November 19

Look for detailed information about specific workshops in the near future.

Save the Date

2010-08-12T10:13:00.016-05:00

Be watching for additional information about these events!

Sept. 28, 2010-Career Expo- SMSU

Sept. 29, 2010- Career Expo- MN West- Worthington Campus

Oct. 5, 2010- Work-based Learning and Career Development Conference- Redwood Falls

Oct. 13, 2010- Business Educator Meeting- Marshall

Nov. 10- Annual Minnesota CTE Conference- Plymouth

Nov. 19, 2010- F.A.C.S. Educator Meeting-Marshall

March 30, 2011- Culinary Skills Challenge- SMSU

April 6, 2011- Technical Skills Challenge- MN West- Pipestone Campus

Career Development Conference

2010-08-12T10:06:00.004-05:00

Register now for the for the Career Development and Work-Based Learning Conference taking place October 5, 2010 at the Redwood Falls Community Center in Redwood Falls, MN.

The conference will feature Curtis Richards, the current Director of the Center for Workforce Development at the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington D.C. Richards serves as the lead technical assistance provider for the National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability for Youth. His keynote address, "Transition Comes of Age" will discuss the "Guideposts for Success", which were identified by the NCWD/Youth to assist all youth to navigate the road to work, further education and independent living. He will discuss nationwide efforts to organize around these "Guideposts" and the means for blending and braiding resources across systems to foster effective youth transition.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Work-based learning coordinators, career course instructors, special education teachers, career and technical educators, guidance counselors and agency professionals who provide career guidance and work-based learning experiences to youth.

On-line registration, a conference flyer, and session descriptions are available at: http://scweb.swsc.org/swsc_online_registration/reg_workshop.aspx?wid=899&Digest=y/dNvR8edDisKcxwWlXXtg

Early Bird Registration by September 20, 2010 is $20.00 and Final Registration by September 27, 2010 is $35.00

Conference registration includes breakfast, lunch and 5 CEUs.

PARTNERS: SW/WC Service Cooperative, Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Minnesota West Carl Perkins Consortium, Member School Districts, and a Capacity Building Grant through the Minnesota Department of Education

Lifetime of Learning Site Gets New Look

2010-08-11T08:15:00.004-05:00

Over the summer, the Lifetime of Learning website has taken on a new look. You will still find information about Carl Perkins, upcoming trainings, conferences, and student competitions as well as the latest information on Programs of Study and Articulated College Credit. Same great information, just a new look. Check it out at http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/.

Career Development and Work-Based Learning Conference

2010-05-18T07:42:00.003-05:00

Registration is now available for the October 5, 2010 Career Development and Work-Based Learning Conference that will be taking place at the Redwood Falls Community Center in Redwood Falls, MN.

The conference will feature Curtis Richards, the current Director of the Center for Workforce Development at the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington D.C. Richards serves as the lead technical assistance provider for the National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability for Youth. His keynote address, "Transition Comes of Age" will discuss the "Guideposts for Success", which were identified by the NCWD/Youth to assist all youth to navigate the road to work, further education and independent living. He will discuss nationwide efforts to organize around these "Guideposts" and the means for blending and braiding resources across systems to foster effective youth transition.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Work-based learning coordinators, career course instructors, special education teachers, career and technical educators, guidance counselors and agency professionals who provide career guidance and work-based learning experiences to youth.

On-line registration, a conference flyer, and session descriptions are available at: http://scweb.swsc.org/swsc_online_registration/reg_workshop.aspx?wid=899&Digest=y/dNvR8edDisKcxwWlXXtg

Early Bird Registration by September 20, 2010 is $20.00 and Final Registration by September 27, 2010 is $35.00

Conference registration includes breakfast, lunch and 5 CEUs.

PARTNERS: SW/WC Service Cooperative, Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Minnesota West Carl Perkins Consortium, Member School Districts, and a Capacity Building Grant through the Minnesota Department of Education

Staff Development Opportunity for Business Educators

2010-05-17T13:14:00.004-05:00

Save the Date! The Minnesota West Carl Perkins Consortium has received funding to provide a one day workshop for business education instructors. The training will be held June 10 at the SW/WC Service Cooperative offices in Marshall. This full-day training will be led by Minnesota West Community and Technical college staff. Topics will include virtual computers and maintaining a secure home/classroom network.

Registration information will be available soon!

Mileage and instructional supplies will be provided. No prior experience is necessary.

Technical Skills Challenge 2010

2010-05-17T12:43:00.006-05:00

119 high school students from the region participated in the 7th Annual Technical Skills Challenge at the Canby Campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Students participated in Digital Photography, Solar Sprint Car Racing, and Team and Individual Welding competitions. The Tech Skills Challenge offers students an opportunity to demonstrate the skills they've learned in school and make the connection to how those skills are used by industry. The competitions are designed and judged by local businesses. This year's partners were SMI and Hydraulics, American Welding, and Up North Images.

To view video footage of the solar car races, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACAJQucX49M

Pictures of the event can be found at http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/

Program Advisory Committee Workshop

2010-05-17T08:37:00.003-05:00

Several Minnesota West consortium members attended the Program Advisory Committee Workshop in Mankato in April. The workshop presenters shared very useful information about how to develop and make optimal use of your advisory committees. Some of the handout material is now available on the Career & Technical Education web site http://www.cte.mnscu.edu/events/training.html

Items available for download include:
Program Advisory Committee Handbook (2010 Edition), Quick Summary of the Handbook, Next Steps Sample Worksheet, and Advisory Committee Snapshot.

Culinary Competitors Show What's Cookin'

2010-04-25T13:09:00.013-05:00

Approximately 220 high school students from around the region participated in the annual Culinary Skills Challenge held at SMSU on April 8. Food industry experts acted as the judges and competition designers for the event. Students had the opportunity to compete in a variety of events including cooking, baking, cake decorating, food art, garnishing, place setting, and menu design. Students not busy competing were able to take part in interactive breakout sessions led by experts in cake decorating, nutrition, food science, food art, as well as many others areas.

To view a slideshow of the winning entries, please visit www.lifetimeoflearning.com and click the Culinary Skills Challenge logo.

TEACHING FINANCIAL EDUCATION TODAY

2010-04-20T08:21:00.007-05:00

New legislation and today’s economic realities make it
critical to teach financial education. What methods will
best support students' ability to use financial knowledge?
Which methods are appropriate for the content?
This workshop will provide details on the new Credit
CARD Act and research-based information on teaching,
decision-making and learning styles. Learn how to apply
this information within the NEFE High School Financial
Planning Program® (HSFPP).

AUDIENCE: This workshop is appropriate for classroom
teachers in family and consumer science, business education,
social studies, economics, alternative learning centers, as
well as credit union and community agency staff and others
who provide financial education programs for young audiences

Interested individuals can register for the training online at: www.regonline.com/FinancialEd

DATES & LOCATIONS
All sessions scheduled 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 15: Marshall
Marshall Area YMCA

Wednesday, June 16: Morris
U of M WCROC & Extension Regional Office

Thursday, June 17: Brooklyn Center
City-County Federal Credit Union

Tuesday, June 22: Chaska
Carver County Government Center

Wednesday, June 23: Mankato
Country Inn & Suites

Thursday, June 24: Rochester
UCR-Heintz Center

Tuesday, June 29: St. Cloud
St. Cloud Federal Credit Union

2010 Nursing Scholorship Program

2010-04-20T08:17:00.004-05:00

Applications accepted April 1 through May 6
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is eligible?
A: U.S. Citizens enrolled or accepted as a full‐time or part‐time student in an accredited school of nursing in a professional registered nurse program (baccalaureate, graduate, associate degree, or diploma). Applicants must be free from any Federal judgment liens, existing service commitments and not delinquent on a Federal debt.
Q: What is the scholarship amount and service obligation?
A: The scholarship award pays for tuition, fees, other reasonable educational costs and includes a $1,269 monthly stipend. In return, the student agrees to provide a minimum of 2 years of full or part time clinical service at a health care facility with a shortage of nurses upon graduation.
Q: What sites are eligible?
A: NSP participants must fulfill their service obligations at a health center, rural health clinic, hospital, home health agency, nursing home or other type of eligible critical shortage facility. Participants earn a competitive salary and benefits package, paid by the facility, while fulfilling the service obligation. The Nursing Scholarship Program pays tuition, education‐related expenses (including books, clinical supplies
and laboratory fees) and a living stipend. In exchange, scholars are committed to work for at least 2 years after graduation at a health facility with a critical shortage of nurses. Preference is given to qualified applicants with the greatest financial need who are enrolled full‐time in an undergraduate RN program. Applicants must begin classes for the Fall term on or after July 1, 2010 and no later than September 30, 2010. It is expected that 500 awards will be made for the 2010‐2011 school year.

How To Apply: Important Dates and Information
1.) Today: Go to www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/scholarships/nursing to learn more about the program. Be sure to read the Application and Program Guidance.
2.) By 5 pm, May 6: On the Web site, follow the links to
 Submit your on‐line application
 Download, complete and fax or mail your supplemental
forms and documentation.
Both parts of the application must be submitted by the deadline for your application to be complete. Don’t wait until the last minute!
3.) Weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm ET: Call 1‐800‐221‐9393 if you have any questions about the Nursing Scholarship. Or send an e‐mail anytime to CallCenter@hrsa.gov.

Bauman Named Minnesota West Teacher of the Year

2010-04-20T08:07:00.002-05:00

Leslie Bauman, instructor for the accounting program on the Granite Falls campus has been named Minnesota West Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010. Bauman graduated from Granite Falls Vocational Technical Institute, which is now Minnesota West. She has Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Bemidji State University.

Bauman serves as the advisor and advocate for the college's Business Professionals of America chapter. She has led Minnesota West students to many state and national BPA awards and has been voted state BPA Advisor of the Year.

SIFE Team Wins Regional Competition

2010-04-19T21:15:00.003-05:00

The Southwest Minnesota State University Students in Free Enterprise club claimed its eighth straight regional SIFE competition in Minneapolis in March. The win qualifies the group to compete in the national competition in Minneapolis May 11-13. The club's projects include helping students in three countries start their own greeting card businesses; teaching at-risk high school students about budgeting, the job application process and other life skills; opening a retail outlet store; establishing an online blog promoting the discussion of ethical scenarios from different cultures from around the world; and individually tutoring students to help them pass standardized test exams.

6th Annual Bio-Science Conference

2010-03-12T13:04:00.002-06:00

The Worthington Regional Economic Development Corporation will be hosting the 6th annual Bio-Science Conference on March 25th & 26th. High school juniors will have an opportunity to participate in a day of laboratory experiences on March 24 which will include:
• Dissection of a pig - hosted by Veterinary Medical Center
• Meats and Bacterial Testing - hosted by JBS Swift & Company and AURI
• Infectious Diseases - hosted by Worthington High School and Minnesota West Community & Technical College
• Egg Membrane, Osmosis - hosted by South Dakota State University
• Nanotechnology - hosted by North Dakota SCS, Fargo, ND
• Fermentation - hosted by Minnesota West Community & Technical College and AURI

Please contact Amber Luinenburg from Minnesota West by March 17 at 507-372-3499 or amber.luinenburg@mnwest.edu for more information or to register students for the event.

University on the Prairie

2010-03-12T11:55:00.004-06:00

University on the Prairie takes sixty students in grades 8-10 through three days of engaging hands-on experiences that will show what they can do with science education. Students will explore a variety of career opportunities in four science-based areas important to this region using interactive learning in classrooms, labs and the great outdoors at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center at Lamberton, Minnesota.

The three days of learning, fun and activities will end with a closing celebration for participating students, their families, teachers, faculty and media. A display of final projects, a short program and picnic will all be part of this celebration.

The cost to participate in University on the Prairie is $50. Payment will be collected after acceptance into the program. For more information go to: http://swroc.cfans.umn.edu/uonp/uontheprairie.htm

Advanced Placement Accounting Workshop

2010-03-12T11:47:00.004-06:00

The Minnesota Advanced Placement (AP) Accounting Pilot Project Workshop has been set for July 14 -16, 2010 in Plymouth. Registration materials are now available on the MBEI and MDE websites or by clicking the link below. The Minnesota West Consortium is willing to pay the registration fee, mileage, and lodging for the event.
If you have any questions about the project, please feel free to contact Jean Kyle at (651) 582-8514 or jean.kyle@state.mn.us. There is room for 75 teachers to participate, so early registration is advised.
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A4LZPMA72

Technical Skills Challenge 2010

2010-03-12T11:14:00.005-06:00

High school students are invited to the annual Technical Skills Challenge being held April 22 on the Minnesota West Canby Campus. This year's events include Digital Photography, Solar Sprint Car, Wind Energy, Cell Phone Showdown, and both an individual and team welding competition.

For more information and registration forms, please visit www.lifetimeoflearning.com. Registrations for the 2010 Technical Skills Challenge are welcome anytime but must be submitted by April 2 to take advantage of the early-bird discount.

WindWise Curriculum

2010-03-12T10:51:00.005-06:00

WindWise Education is an innovative curriculum for 6-12th grades that provides answers to today's real-world energy questions. Curriculum and lesson plans are available to download for teachers interested in doing in-depth wind energy projects in the classrooom.

WindWise activities utilize unbiased, scientific data, case studies, and scenarios. While teaching core subjects such as physics, technology, earth science, math, economics, social studies, and language arts, WindWise answers key questions such as "where is it windy in the US?", "which wind turbine blades work best?", and "how are birds impacted by wind turbines?".

The WindWise curricula is available to download for free. Binders of the material are also available for purchase.

Download or purchase the WindWise curricula - www.windwiseeducation.org

Annual Health Careers Day

2010-03-12T09:53:00.004-06:00

Speakers from a variety of health professions will be presenting talks about their professions on March 31 at Southwest Minnesota State University. Individual students or groups may attend.

Students will hear presentations given by the following health care professionals:
Physical Therapist, Physician(D.O.), Speech Therapist, Dentist, Emergency Medical Tech/Paramedic, Chiropractor, Nurse, Veterinarian, Medical/Radiologic Technologist, Pharmacist, Dental Hygienist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist

If you are interested in bringing students to “Health Careers Day”, call 1-800-642-0684, ext. 6175 by Friday, March 26, or email Dr. Sandy Craner at sandy.craner@smsu.edu.

Program of Study Update

2010-02-12T13:13:00.002-06:00

Programs of Study are sets of aligned curricula that begin in high school and continue through college programs. The courses are sequential and can be considered stepping stones to skill building and academic progression. They are competency based and tied to employer needs and industry standards.

Careers are organized by fields, clusters, and pathways. The Minnesota West Consortium has been focusing on the Business, Management, and Administration field and will begin working on additional fields this spring during scheduled work sessions.

Competitive Employment Grant

2010-02-12T11:30:00.005-06:00

The SW/WC Service Cooperative and its partners were awarded a Competitive Employment Grant from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The grant focus will be on improving work-based learning programs in our service region. Some key points will be: initiating new work-based learning programs using a shared-service model, improving communication between organizations and providing up-to-date transition resources to parents, teachers, students and agencies, providing staff development for teachers and paraprofessionals to improve their skills in setting up and managing work-based learning programs, and adding an independent living skills assessment service to the Project Discovery program.

Marshall High School Receives BPA Chapter of the Month Honor

2010-02-12T11:17:00.003-06:00

Marshall High School has been chosen Minnesota BPA chapter of the month. Marshall has 37 active members in Business Professionals of America. Members run the school store, do fundraising for programs like Special Olympics and more. Congratulations!

Minnesota West Receives Grant

2010-02-11T15:28:00.005-06:00

Minnesota West Community and Technical College has received a grant from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the Minnesota Department of Education. This grant will support efforts to improve participation and completion of nontraditional programs. These funds will be used to improve Minnesota West's marketing campaign and update career guidance materials in secondary schools. WorkForce Centers, school guidance counselors, parents, and students will see updated brochures and web-based marketing materials next fall.

February is CTE Month

2010-02-11T12:08:00.005-06:00

February is CTE Month! This year's theme is CTE: Invest in Your Future.

Go to www.acteonline.org/ctemonth.aspx to learn more about CTE celebrations and activities.

Career & Technical Education Month Celebration logo courtesy of Bells International, Inc. and ACTE copyright 2010 ACTE & Bells International, Inc. www.imprintmall.com/careertech

Upcoming Skills Events

2010-01-21T08:03:00.012-06:00

Registration deadlines will be fast approaching for the Culinary and Technical Skills Challenges. Please take a look at the exciting events being prepared for students at our website- www.lifetimeoflearning.com.

Junior Achievement Finance Park- Free!

2010-01-20T14:35:00.003-06:00

Junior Achievement’s newest middle and high school program will be made available to schools in our consortium at NO COST this spring! This innovative new program, focused on budgeting, money management and investments, features high quality classroom curriculum and a unique online simulation.

As part of the program, teachers will receive a curriculum guide, students will receive workbooks and will utilize an online simulation to put all their learning to the test. JA staff will work closely with teachers to make sure the experience is a success for all participants. This program is unique in that a volunteer will work with the students for one hour, in a format that is convenient for both the teachers and the volunteers.

Thanks to generous funding support, JA is opening this program up to participants throughout the state at no cost, on a first come, first serve basis. The program has relevance at 7-12th grade levels, so please share with staff teaching at the middle school level.

Send an email to gail.polejewski@swsc.org to request an application form, or contact Jennifer Bahti at jbahti@jaum.org or 651.255.0055 for more information.

AP Accounting

2010-01-20T14:20:00.003-06:00

MDE Program Specialist, Jean Kyle, has announced that Minnesota will be participating in an advance placement (AP) accounting project. The goal of this initiative is to create an AP Accounting course and exam to be submitted to The College Board for adoption as an AP course and exam offering. Tentatively, the AP Pilot Training will be held July 14, 15 & 16, 2010 with the location to be decided at a later date. Full information and registration materials will be available within the next few weeks, and we will share that information as soon as it becomes available.

iPods And Educational Applications Have Minnesota Students Giddy About Learning

2010-01-20T14:04:00.003-06:00

See an example of how Minnesota teachers are using new technology in their classrooms.

The Committed Sardine - blog

2010 Home Grown Economy Conference

2010-01-19T13:27:00.005-06:00

U.S. Representaive Collin Peterson will be hosting "The Home Grown Economy 2010- Equipping you to Build Community Based Food Systems" in Marshall on February 15th and 16th. Interactive video sessions will also be held on Tuesday, February 16th at the following college campus locations: University of Minnesota, Crookston; University of Minnesota, Morris; Bemidji State University, and Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls.

“Changing attitudes about food, its impact on health and well-being, and growing opportunities for small farmers have sparked a movement across the country and in Minnesota of consumers seeking out locally grown foods, Peterson said, “and I’m hosting this conference to help get the word out and link people to the available resources.”

“With this demand for more locally grown foods, farmers and rural communities can benefit from a variety of new opportunities. The farm to school program, linking local agricultural producers to school lunch and breakfast programs, is growing in Minnesota. Farmers' markets and food co-ops are springing up all over the state and in grocery stores; “Minnesota Grown” and “locally grown” labels are being sought out by shoppers.”

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will be providing the keynote address. In addition, Ken Meter of Crossroads Resource Center will present his insights on how food networks thrive and strengthen local economies. Panel presenters will provide information about what is happening at the local level and each regional site will be afforded an opportunity to discuss how they can expand upon their local community based food system.”

For more information on the 2010 Home Grown Economy conference, go to www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu or call 507-752-5062.

Minnesota West Renewable Energy

2010-01-19T11:05:00.004-06:00

The Renewable Energy field is growing throughout the country, and Minnesota West Community and Technical College is leading the way as a primary trainer of a new workforce ready to meet the needs of this expanding industry.

Click the following link to see what's new in this growing field and how Minnesota West is rising to the challenge of providing quality workers each step of the way.

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?PBID=c96b8583-6c22-4917-9781-23ad73d1c491

Technical Skills Challenge 2010

2009-12-14T10:46:00.004-06:00

Registration information for the 2010 Technical Skills Challenge is available at http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/ The Technical Skills Challenge offers a venue for students to showcase their talents in a fun but competitive way. Please share this information with any instructors in your school who may not receive this directly but may be interested in having students participate.

This year's competitions include Digital Photography, Wind Energy, Solar Sprint Cars, Welding, and Cell Phone Challenge. Some competitions require very little preparation prior to the competition, so feel free to look them over and decide if they may be right for your students.

Accuplacer Project

2009-12-09T12:39:00.003-06:00

Accuplacer is the internet-based assessment used by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System to determine students' readiness for college math, reading, and writing. Minnesota West Community and Technical College and the SW/WC Service Cooperative have teamed up since 2005 to provide high schools in the Minnesota West Carl Perkins Consortium an opportunity to assess their juniors at no cost. Eight districts will test approximately 650 students this school year. Participating schools will receive a comprehensive report with their students' scores.