12.21.2010

CareerTech Christmas II

Another example to share with you from this year.



(Click on the picture to enlarge)

12.20.2010

Call for CareerTech Hall of Fame Nominations


The Oklahoma Foundation for Career and Technology Education is accepting nominations for the Oklahoma CareerTech Hall of Fame.

Inductees include Governor Dewey Bartlett, Governor George Nigh and Dr. Francis Tuttle.

Nomination criteria and past inductees are avaliable to view on the Foundation website. Nomiantions for the Class of 2011 are due April 1, 2011.

12.16.2010

CareerTech Christmas

I have received a few CareerTech Christmas greetings and thought I would share them with you. If there are others, send the link so that we can get them up to share with others.

(Click on the image to enlarge)


Metro Technology Center




Western Technology Center




Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center

12.10.2010

2011 CTE Month PSA Winner

Here is the winner of the 2011 CTE month PSA contest. Congrats to the winners from Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix, Arizona



You can view the second place video, and get more info here.

12.07.2010

Hoiday ECards

I have not yet seen the big list from HigherEdWebTech, so I thought I would go ahead and start a list of Christmas and Holiday ECards. Some of them I have not seen and I am working on finding the 2010 versions. Please share with us your holiday cards by commenting below and providing a link.

Ashland University (2010)

Indiana University (2010)

Keene State College

Saint Joseph College

Stetson College

12.06.2010

ACTE Convention - Las Vegas


Last week I had the opportunity to attend the ACTE Convention in Las Vegas! (Thank you OkACTE!) Let me share what I brought home from the conference and all the presenters and attendees.

(On a side note, it was pretty cool that at every turn you saw someone from Oklahoma. Oklahomans are representing our state well in CTE as attendees, presenters, award winners and in leadership positions. If you didn't know, the Past President and President Elect of ACTE are both from Oklahoma!!)

After attending the First Timers Orientation Thursday morning, it was time for the Opening Session with OVAE Assistant Secretary Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier and Tim Sanders.

Dann-Messier spoke about how America is facing a skills recession and that CTE + experiential learning equals success for the future. She also spoke about the need for seamless secondary to higher education transitions and industry recognized credentials.

Sanders opened his keynote with great advice for anyone who speaks. He shared that "The only reason to give a speech is to change the world." Tim worked at Yahoo and his website says that he is a people-centric business expert. Tim had a great message about relationships and the Law of Reciprocity. You can view his keynote outline here.

After taking a quick walk through the CareerTech Expo and looking at what seemed like a 1,000 vendors, it was time to head to the ACTE Assembly of Delegates meeting. For those who do not know what the Assembly of Delegates do, they are your voice in matters related to ACTE and CTE. These are the people who vote for you. It was interesting watching the process and attending the assembly.

After the assembly I attended the New and Related Services (NRS) Luncheon and Business Meeting. Oklahoma's Claire Zevnik-Cine is the NRS Vice President and presided over the meeting.

The rest of the day was filled with break out session covering topics all over career and technology education. I attended "How Washington Works" and it was a great session with two of ACTE's Public Policy Staff. They shared about the political process in Washington and insight into how a bill becomes a law, and it is a lot different than what I learned from watching School House Rock!

Friday started with a General Session and some awards! Oklahoma brought home a pair of awards and a congrats goes out to Jeanette Capshaw, Moore Norman Technology Center, who is the Outstanding Career and Technical Educator and Buddy Neasbitt, Great Plains Technology Center, who was named Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher.

During the general session participants had the opportunity to listen to a panel discussion that included a continuum of education, from the President of Gateway Technical College down to two students.

The breakout sessions for day two were just as plentiful. I attended a session on being an under 40 professional in CTE and gained some great insight from fellow professionals. Next was a session about starting career education early and then on to the transition to college.

I had the opportunity to attend the ACTE Town Hall meeting where members had the opportunity to ask questions and get answers about the issues that relate to them. One of the questions posed was where do the arts fit into CTE?

This was also the day with the second Assembly of Delegates meeting. We heard many diferent reports and learned about membership, finances and more dealing with ACTE.

The last day of the convention was just as full as the first. I attended an open source session that discussed tools for the classroom that are free!! Next a session about data and then on to the closing general session.

John Hofmeister, CEO of Citizens for Affordable Energy and author of Why We Hate Oil Companies was the first speaker. hofmeister spoke of our energy issues as a country and offered some solutions and great insight. He is the former CEO of Shell Companies.

He was followed by Matthew Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft. Crawford had many wonderful insights into CTE and the manual trades and shared that the skilled manual trades is a life worth living and that we should publicly recognize manual trades people and students.

After attending the Region IV Business Meeting, it was time to check out and grab a plane back to Oklahoma. It was a great trip and I brought home a lot of good information that I hope to share with other CTE professionals on how we can provide opportunities for our students.

If you want to see what was Tweeted about, search Twitter with the hashtag #acte10 or click here. If you want to see some of the great information shared, browse the presentations from the convention sessions.

Who knows, maybe I will see you next year in St Louis!!

11.23.2010

Advisory Committee Recognition

At Central Technology Center, inside the classrooms, sets a framed picture of the advisory committee.

I have never seen something like this and think that it is something that should definitely be shared with others as a best practice.

There is a heading letting everyone know that it is the advisory committee for the career major. Below that is a color picture of the committee with their names below the picture and indicator of their business/employer.

What a cool and innovative way to show your advisory committee that they are important, and a great way to show students how they can be successful in their career major though a visual reminder and remind them that they have an opportunity to give back to their technology center when they become a success.

How do you recognize your advisory committee?

11.22.2010

Seasons Greetings

It is the time of year when we start to think about, and maybe send, holiday cards.

In my inbox today was the first holiday card I have received this year. Take a look!

Do you send holiday cards to prospective students, to clients, to alumni? Share your link with us and I will share with you the cards that I find.

11.18.2010

Minute to Win It

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Technical Honor Society held its annual State Conference.

The theme for 2011 was Minute to Win It with NTHS.

Attendees played games from the hit tv show Minute to Win It like "Face the Cookie" and "Sticky Situation." They heard from motivational speakers and had the opportunity to attend break out sessions and eat pizza!

The National Technical Honor Society mission is "To honor student achievement and leadership, promote educational excellence, and enhance career opportunities for the NTHS membership." The Oklahoma Chapter is one of the largest organizations in the national society.

The next event for the society is the NTHS Day at the Capital in March.

11.05.2010

RSS Feeds


Do you make it easy for your technology center supporters to get information about what is going on?

An easy way to do this is through RSS feeds, or Really Simple Syndication. It is basically a way to publish frequently updated material, like Blogs and news. You can read more about that on Wikipedia.

There are a few technology centers who make use of this technology. People who subscribe simply sign up for your feed in a reader (I like Google's reader) and when you update information it is automatically sent to them!

A must subscribe for people who are involved in Oklahoma CTE is the OK CareerTech RSS Feed.

This is a list of the RSS feeds that I can find for technology centers in Oklahoma.

Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center

Gordon Cooper Technology Center

Great Plains Technology Center


Mid America Technology Center

Tri County Technology Center

Tulsa Technology Center

When you start your RSS feed let us know so we can add it to the list, and please put the big orange box next to it so people know where to sign up.

11.02.2010

Shock and Awe

During the NCPN Conference this year I attended a session entitled Shock and Awe. The presentation was about Moberly Area Community College, in Morberly, MO and the way they work to change the perception of CTE through "immersion."

The one thing that stuck with me after the presentation was the way that students play an integral part of their event.

The college invites local instructors to campus to take part in auditing CTE classrooms. This is something that happens on OK through Instructor Boot Camps and other instructor and counselor instructor events.

But what makes the Moberly event different is that instead of the CTE instructor, the classes were led by students!

Students taught instructors about auto mechanics, engineering, and more!

I thought this was a great twist to a traditional professional development event and wanted to make sure that I shared it with you.

If you are interested, here is their Tech Prep page

10.29.2010

2010 NCPN Enrollment Management Presentation

For those that joined us at the 2010 NCPN Conference, and for those that missed it, here is my presentation. I hope you enjoy.

Entering a Technology Center District

You see them all over Oklahoma. A sign that lets you know that you are entering the Pawnee County Conservation District, or this conservation district or that conservation district.

Why not a sign on the main highways and bi-ways into your local technology center district? A sign that lets people know they have entered the Western Technology Center District on I-40, the Meridian Technology Center District on the Cimarron Turnpike or let people know that they are entering the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center District on I-35.

Not only would people know as they travel the state what technology center district operates in that area, but you would remind citizens of your district that they are part of what is happening at your technology center, even in the farthest reaches of your district.

And don't forget to let them know that you are a proud part of the Oklahoma CareerTech System!

10.25.2010

IMPACT Training Video











If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

NATPL/NCPN Conference


Just got back from another wonderful NATPL Forum and NCPN Conference in Dallas. It was great to see old friends and make new friends, all the while talking about how to make CTE and Tech Prep better in Oklahoma.

At the NATPL forum we had the opportunity to listen to David Okerlund and I look forward to reading his book. I presented during the forum on Enrollment Management in CTE. I had a great crowd and enjoyed the conversation that took over gaining new insight into the articulation process across the country.

During the NCPN Conference we heard opening remarks from Brenda Dann Messler, Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Education, as well as the keynote address from Bennie Lambert, Lone Star College. The conference was filled with breakout sessions covering everything from the Best Practices of the Achieve Texas program, Shock and Awe and how to change the perception of CTE, Annual Reporting of Consortium Data and the new 21st Centruy Leadership program.

I presented at the NCPN Conference as well, talking to a great crowd about Helping Students Achieve Success through Enrollment Management.

I had a great time, learned a lot about CTE across the country and am looking forward to the 2011 NCPN Conference in Orlando, Florida, October 12-14.


For all the latest news follow OK CareerTech on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okcareertech

10.14.2010

To .EDU or not .EDU

16 of 29 technology centers now have a .edu domain name. That is 55%! This is our list of changes of technology center website address changes.

Meridian can now be accessed through a .edu domain, http://meridiantech.edu

Eastern OK County can be accessed through .edu domain, http://www.eoctech.edu

Great Plains can be accessed via http://www.greatplains.edu

Mid America is at http://www.matech.edu

Northwest is located at http://www.nwtech.edu

.EDU
Canadian Valley: http://www.cvtech.edu/
Central Tech: http://www.centraltech.edu
Chisholm Trail: http://www.cttc.edu/
EOC: http://www.eoctech.edu/
Francis Tuttle: http://www.francistuttle.edu
Great Plains: http://www.greatplains.edu/
Meridian: http://meridiantech.edu/
Metro Tech http://www.metrotech.edu
Mid America: http://www.matech.edu/
Northeast Tech http://www.netech.edu
Northwest: http://www.nwtech.edu/
Pontotoc: http://www.pontotoctech.edu
Red River: http://rrtc.edu/
Southern OK: http://www.sotc.edu/
Southwest Tech: http://swtech.edu/
Tulsa Tech http://www.tulsatech.edu

.ORG
Gordon Cooper: http://www.gctech.org
Kiamichi: http://www.okktc.org
Pioneer: http://pioneertech.org
Tri County: http://tctc.org
Wes Watkins: http://www.wwtech.org

.NET
High Plains: http://www.hptc.net

.TEC.OK.US
Mid-Del: http://www.mid-del.tec.ok.us
Western: http://www.wtc.tec.ok.us/

.COM
Autry: http://www.autrytech.com
Caddo Kiowa: http://www.caddokiowa.com
Green Country: http://www.gctcok.com/
Indian Capitol: http://www.ictctech.com
Moore-Norman: http://www.mntechnology.com

WIN IT IN A MINUTE WITH NTHS


WIN, LOSE OR DRAW, You'll Have A Great Experience at the NTHS State Leadership Conference on Tuesday, November 16, 2010. The conference will be held at the South Penn Campus of Moore Norman Technology Center

The State Conference is an opportunity to promote leadership and student success and begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $15 per person and you are encouraged to wear jeans, slacks, or skirt as you will be given an official NTHS State Conference T-shirt at registration.

10.13.2010

Metro Technology Center Blog

Metro Technology Center, located in Oklahoma City, has just released s new Blog!

Metro Technology Center Blog

What other technology centers are blogging? Let us know.

10.11.2010

Technology Centers on Twitter

Since CareerTech is now up and running on Twitter, we thought we would put together a comprehensive list of technology centers who are using the micro-blogging service.

Currently we have found 16 technology centers who use Twitter. That is just over 50%! There is also 3 of the 8 CTSO's who are using it to get the word out.

Autry Technology Center
Caddo Kiowa Technology Center
Canadian Valley Technology Center
Chisholm Trail Technology Center
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center
Francis Tuttle Technology Center
High Plains Technology Center
Mid America Technology Center
Mid Del Technology Center
Meridian Technology Center
Metro Technology Center
Moore Norman Technology Center
Pontotoc Technology Center
Tri County Technology Center
Tulsa Technology Center
Wes Watkins Technology Center

CareerTech Student Organizations
FFA
BPA
DECA

CareerTech Divisions
OK Horizon
Testing

Did we miss anyone?

okcareertech on Twitter


CareerTech is now on Twitter!

We have fired up the okcareertech Twitter Account and could not be more excited to communicate with you via this channel.

Come and follow us today!

10.08.2010

30th Annual Encyclo-media

This afternoon I presented over the Cooperative Alliances at the 30th State Superintendents Encyclo-media. I enjoyed the great conversations and hope to get more opportunities to share with high school counselors about the great things that the Cooperative Alliance Program is doing.

Here is the presentation from today.

10.01.2010

Succesful Practices - Graduation Ceremonies

It has been a few months since we have shared a successful practice with you. This one comes from Northern Oklahoma College.

In an effort to show adjunct faculty at the technology center how valuable they are to the educational process and the Cooperative Alliance Program, they are asked to participate in the graduation exercises at NOC.

Technology center/adjunct faculty are encouraged to wear academic regalia and fully participate!

We think that this is a great tradition and hope to see other partnerships adopt it. We are all working together to provide students opportunities to graduate high school with college credit, and this reinforces that joint commitment.

We have a new look!

Thanks to Rob's Twitter template, and a few changes, the Tech Prep Blog has a new look.

What do you think?

9.30.2010

New Blog - Knowledge Network

There is a new Blog that has been added to the CareerTech Blog family.

The Knowledge Network Blog went live earlier this month. What will you find on the new blog? Lots of good infomration about educational technology and educational curriculum.

Head over and check it out. Be sure to subscribe to the feed in your RSS reader of choice and stay up to date with what is going on.

Knowledge Network Blog

9.08.2010

NCA CASI AdvancEd Presentation

On Monday I am presenting at the 53rd Annual Oklahoma NCA CASI/AdvancEd Conference. Here is a preview of what I will be talking about. It is going to be a great conference and I can not wait to present. I will be attending the entire conference as well and can't wait to bring back some great info to share with you next week.

8.30.2010

Oklahoma ACT Scores

The Oklahoma High School ACT report was recently released, how did we do?

The ACT test is graded on a scale of 0-36, with 36 being the highest. Oklahoma’s average composite score is 20.7, with 73 percent of the Sr class participating. The national average composite score is 21 and a participation rate of just 47 percent.

Edmond North High School reported the highest average in Oklahoma with a 24.3.

How did your high school do? Find out by downloading the Oklahoma ACT Report.

8.16.2010

I Didn't Know That!

Over on the CareerTech STEM Blog there is a post with a great new video for you to use in promoting STEM careers to students.

Check out the I Didn't Know That video

8.04.2010

2010 Summer Conference - Twitter Style!


Summer Conference 2010 is in the books! What was your favorite part?

My favorite part was to see the people who where a part of our first organized effort to Tweet about Summer Conference.

If you search #okacte, you will come up with pages of Tweets from conference participants covering everything from empty seats at the general session, congratulations to Dr Berkenbile on the Tuttle Career Achievement Award, notes on super session speakers and details about Tuesday breakouts.

We are already talking about how to make the 2011 Summer Conference Twitter experience even bigger and better! Who knows, maybe we will even organize the first CareerTech Tweetup!

Thank you for Tweeting along with us. What was your favorite part of Summer Conference?

7.30.2010

Summer Conference 2010


CareerTech's Summer Conference is next week!! Are you ready?

For some Summer Conference begins Sunday morning, but for most the Opening Session on Monday is the beginning of the two day conference that last through Tuesday afternoon.

Super session over Max Teaching and Crucial Conversations, breakouts covering guidance, counseling and Tech Prep, meetings awards and more will be attended by instructors from every facet of the Oklahoma CareerTech system.

I can't wait to Blog about what we do and what we learn. I hope you'll join the conversation.

And, if you are on Twitter follow Summer Conference on #okacte

7.21.2010

Technology Center Banners



You have seen them in your local high school gymnasium and probably never even thought about it. You look around at the walls and notice banners that hang and tell the history and tradition of your local high school. You quickly read the championship years and names of scholars and maybe it takes you back to the "good ol days" of when you were pounding the hardwood.

Today I had an opportunity to meet with staff from Green Country Technology Center and they mentioned one great way that they advertised their support for local schools was through providing each school a banner.

The banners were done in the high schools colors and roughly said "Green Country Technology Center is a proud supporter of ABC High School athletics." The banners even included a GCTC logo!

What a great way to advertise your technology center for a relative inexpensive price. Once you purchase the banner, it will hang in the gym for years to come. I remember some banners in my high school going back 30 years!

Have you ever thought about using banners?

7.19.2010

Next week I am scheduled to present at Oklahoma's 89th Annual State 4-H Roundup.

Every year I look forward to interacting with the students and telling them about the opportunities that await them through CareerTech. They usually have some pretty god questions that make you stop and think before giving the same standard answer.

This is my 4th time to present at Roundup, and I always enjoy it. What would you tell high school students about CareerTech and college transition?

While you are thinking about it, here is this years presentation...

7.07.2010

To .EDU or not .EDU?

Great Plains Technology Center and Northwest Technology Center have released new websites with a new .edu domain. Check out the new sites at http://www.greatplains.edu/ and http://www.nwtech.edu/

For those keeping sore, this brings the count to 14 .edu, 6 .org, 1 .net, 2 .tec.ok.us and 6 .com.

.EDU
Canadian Valley http://www.cvtech.edu/
Central Tech http://www.centraltech.edu
Chisholm Trail: http://www.cttc.edu/
Francis Tuttle http://www.francistuttle.edu
Great Plains http://www.greatplains.edu/
Metro Tech http://www.metrotech.edu
Mid America: http://www.matech.edu/
Northeast Tech http://www.netech.edu
Northwest Tech http://www.nwtech.edu/
Pontotoc: http://www.pontotoctech.edu
Red River http://rrtc.edu/
Southern OK http://www.sotc.edu/
Southwest Tech http://swtech.edu/
Tulsa Tech http://www.tulsatech.edu

.ORG
Eastern Oklahoma County http://www.eoctech.org
Gordon Cooper http://www.gctech.org
Kiamichi http://www.okktc.org
Pioneer http://pioneertech.org
Tri County http://tctc.org
Wes Watkins http://www.wwtech.org

.NET
High Plains http://www.hptc.net

.TEC.OK.US
Mid-Del http://www.mid-del.tec.ok.us
Western http://www.wtc.tec.ok.us/

.COM
Autry http://www.autrytech.com
Caddo Kiowa http://www.caddokiowa.com
Green Country http://www.gctcok.com/
Indian Capitol http://www.ictctech.com
Meridian http://www.meridian-technology.com
Moore-Norman http://www.mntechnology.com

6.28.2010

Breaking Perception, Revealing Reality

Earlier this month, I had an opportunity to present at Green Country Technology Center over the Cooperative Alliance Program. Counselors from both Green Country and Wes Watkins Technology Center were in attendance as well as their sending schools.

I was presenting with Debbie Blanke from the State Regents and we both felt that the program was a great opportunity to talk with people implementing the Alliances. After the presentations, we had a great question and answer session with the participants.

I thought I would share my presentation with you, maybe there is something that you can use when you talk to others about the Alliances.

5.24.2010

To .EDU or not .EDU

Another technology center has made the switch to .EDU, who will be next?

Mid America Technology Center has made the switch: http://www.matech.edu/

.EDU
Canadian Valley http://www.cvtech.edu/
Central Tech http://www.centraltech.edu
Chisholm Trail: http://www.cttc.edu/
Francis Tuttle http://www.francistuttle.edu
Metro Tech http://www.metrotech.edu
Mid America: http://www.matech.edu/
Northeast Tech http://www.netech.edu
Pontotoc: http://www.pontotoctech.edu
Red River http://rrtc.edu/
Southern OK http://www.sotc.edu/
Southwest Tech http://swtech.edu/
Tulsa Tech http://www.tulsatech.edu

.ORG
Eastern Oklahoma County http://www.eoctech.org
Gordon Cooper http://www.gctech.org
Great Plains http://www.gptech.org
Kiamichi http://www.okktc.org
Pioneer http://pioneertech.org
Tri County http://tctc.org
Wes Watkins http://www.wwtech.org

.NET
High Plains http://www.hptc.net

.TEC.OK.US
Mid-Del http://www.mid-del.tec.ok.us
Western http://www.wtc.tec.ok.us/

.COM
Autry http://www.autrytech.com
Caddo Kiowa http://www.caddokiowa.com
Green Country http://www.gctcok.com/
Indian Capitol http://www.ictctech.com
Meridian http://www.meridian-technology.com
Moore-Norman http://www.mntechnology.com
Northwest http://www.nwtechonline.com

5.19.2010

Wall of Fame

This week found the Cooperative Alliance Roadshow at Northeast Technology Center and the discovery of an awesome "Successful Practice!"

Students who attend classes in Tami Frascht's Information Technology career cluster have an extra incentive to graduate with their A.A.S. degree, the Wall of Fame.

When a student graduates from any college with an A.A.S. degree, their picture is added to the Wall as an encouragment to others.

Each student gets their picture framed with their name at the top (named removed in picture) and a logo is added to the bottom of the picture to represent the college that they have attended.

What a great, visual way to show students that they can be successful in college. When students walk into the classroom, they can not help but notice their successful former classmates and be reminded that college is a place where they can be succesful .

I can't wait to visit again and watch the Wall of Fame grow!

5.04.2010

Cooperative Alliance Certificates

How do you recognize your Cooperative Alliance students at their home high school?

At Northeast Technology Center, students are presented a Certificate of Recognition for earning college credit hours through a partner college.

Included on the certificate is a reminder that the student can request an official college transcript.

Every opportunity that we remind students they are earning college credit is an opportunity that we remind them that they can be successful at the next level.

By handing out certificates at high school honor assemblies, we show parents of up and coming students that they can be succesful at the technology center and that career and technology education is a bridge into higher education.

Encouragement and marketing, you really can kill two birds with one stone!

4.21.2010

Who's First?

How are you using the new Cooperative Alliance logo? Our first example comes from Southern Oklahoma Technology Center who is also the first technology center to start using it!

How are you using the new logo? Share your examples with us and we will be happy to share them.

4.15.2010

Cooperative Alliance Logo's


Over the past several months the State Regents has been working on a Cooperative Alliance branding initiative.

We are very excited to show you the new logo and can't wait to see how you use it in your marketing with students about the Cooperative Alliances.

You are welcome to start using the new logo, available for download on the Cooperative Alliance website. We will release a time line for 100% implementation soon.

4.02.2010

Succesful Practices - Alliance Opt Out

Over the last couple of weeks we have been busy traveling the state and visiting partnerships in the Cooperative Alliance Project.

The Alliances, if you don't know, is how students in Oklahoma's technology centers can earn transcripted college credit for certain technical courses. They are able to do this for only $8 a credit hour!! Sounds awesome doesn't it? Sadly, there are some issues.

One of the issues that has been discussed is students not taking advantage of the opportunity at enrollment. There are several reasons why and we have discussed many of them. One that keeps coming up is that the parents never get the information that they need to make an informed decision.

Parents are required to sign permission for the student to participate in the program. After all, it is very serious and will be a part of the students permanent academic record. We want the parents to know what their student is doing.

This works fine for the student who wants to participate and be involved. They take the information home, inform mom and dad that they can get college credit for $8 an hour and that they can save money in the long run. Mom and dad sign the form and the student is on their way to earning an Associate of Applied Science degree and transitioning to a high-wage career.

But what about the students who don't want to participate?

If I was a student that did not want to participate, I would take the form and toss it in the trash can before I got off the bus. My parents would never have seen the information!!

How do you get the message home? During one visit, it was discussed how the technology center requires students to take home a letter to their parents that they must sign in order to opt out of the program.

By the student being required to take the letter home, they have to have a conversation with their guardian. They have to tell them that they do not want to participate and be involved, even thought this is a great deal. Hopefully, the parent recognizes what the Alliances are, and can get more information to make the right decision with the student. Hopefully, more students will be persuaded with parent support and the program will grow.

2.22.2010

New Blog -STEM


There is a new Blog in the CareerTech family that I want you to be aware of.

The STEM Division has started their Blog and some really cool stuff is being shared. There are important dates being shared, events and cool resources like the free videos that explain the Science behind the Olympics

Go and check them out. You can even sign up to get their post via email just like the Tech Prep Blog.

CareerTech STEM Blog

2.18.2010

CTE: Invest in Your Future.


This month, celebrations are happening across America. These celebrations are for National CTE Month, held annually in February.

CTE month ends with National Entrepreneurship Week, held February 20-27 this year.

CTSO's in Oklahoma, for example, have attended the state capital and visited with legislators about what CTE is doing for them.

How are you celebrating?

For more information about how you can still get involved with CTE month, visit ACTE.

1.14.2010

FIRST Kickoff

Check out the game animation from FIRST



FIRST is an awesome opportunity to see high school kids do some really amazing stuff! It is more than building robots, though that is a big part. Kids are having fun learning, they are learning about marketing, salesmanship, programming, building, I could go on and on and on........

For more information on FIRST Robotics in Oklahoma go to http://www.oklahomafirst.org/. The competition is being held March 25-27 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

1.05.2010

Financial Aid Night

College admission deadlines are right around the corner and that means that it is time for students to start thinking about financial aid.

As part of the CareerTech System, it is our responsibility to eliminate barriers to transitions. One barrier to successful transitioning of students to college from the technology center is that many of our students are first generation students and their parents have no or limited knowledge of completing financial aid applications and how to search for scholarships.

This is where hosting a Financial Aid night can benefit your district.

During a Financial Aid Night, parents and students are encouraged to attend and learn about the many ways they can gain aid to pay for college.

Topics covered could include the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, Oklahoma's Promise, Fast Web and deadlines of college partner scholarship applications.

There are many ways to host the evening. Our suggestion is to hold it on the campus of the local technology center and invite sending schools to attend. Hold the event during a time that parents could attend (after work hours) and make sure that the event is advertised. Invite the Cooperative Alliance partner to particiapte and encourage students to apply for every opportunity that they can find.

Here are a couple of resources to help you in planning a Financial Aid Night

NASFAA Guide to Financial Aid Night

Parents Letter on How to Prepare
College Goal Sunday

When and where are you planning your Financial Aid Night?

The Oklahoma state students financial aid deadline is April 15, 2010.

1.01.2010

Happy New Year



Happy New Year!! Last year we had 100 post on the Tech Prep Blog and I hope that at least one of them was beneficial to you.

Last year, 5,800 people visited the Tech Prep Blog!! That is an increase of over 1,000 people from 2009! We had visitors from 49 states and 79 countries! That is pretty cool!!

There will be a lot of challenges in 2010 and I look forward to the opportunities that will be created. One thing is for sure, students in Oklahoma and around the county will benefit from Tech Prep becuase of what you do for them, and that is something to be celebrated!!


If you are just stopping by, you do not want to miss any of our post in 2010! Receive the Blog posting in your email and log on here
Do you need to be "in the know" about CareerTech related news, get our Delicious feed here There is a lot of cool stuff happening with Oklahoma CareerTech, you can get the latest news fed directly to your inbox from newspapers all over the state here

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