School Website

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2011). Cooperative Education. Retrieved, February 11, 2012. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/coopFact.pdf

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2012). Specialist High Skills Major. Retrieved, February 11, 2012. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/studentsuccess/pathways/shsm/shsm_fact_sheet.pdf

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2012). Student Success/ Learning to 18. Retrieved, February 11, 2012. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/teachers/studentsuccess/expansion.html#refining1

Ontario Ministry of Labour. (). Tips for Students. Retrieved, February 11, 2012. http://www.livesafeworksmart.net/english/coop/pdf/tip_sheets10/YW_Tips%20Sheet_YoungWorkers_Final.pdf

Ontario Ministry of Labour. (). Tips for Parents. Retrieved, February 11, 2012. http://www.livesafeworksmart.net/english/coop/pdf/tip_sheets10/YW_Tips%20Sheet_Parents_Final.pdf

Currently, there is a link to Co-op on our school website however (as is the case for most of the links), the linked page is blank. In speaking with our Information and Communication Technology teacher, I came to understand that s/he posts information provided to him/her, but to invest time and energy in website design and maintenance would be on a voluntary basis.

The Head of Co-op has informed me that in some boards, there are Co-op Co-ordinators or Communications staff responsible for this task. An opportunity exists then, for a student co-oping in business studies or Com-Tech, to build such a website that would require minimal updating. With that in mind…

Elements to include promoting Co-op and other forms of experiential learning:

Legend:
Blue Text – Link in menu to the left of the main screen
Black Text – Title of page that link leads viewer to
Regular Text – some of the details that might be found there, with images (of students or other symbols) that might be hyperlink (websites provided) and hyperlinks to other documents and/or visuals.

About Co-op At School Name

What is Co-op and Why Consider It?

“Cooperative education is a ministry-approved program that allows students to earn secondary school credits while completing a work placement. The program consists of a co-op course monitored by a cooperative education teacher, a related curriculum course in any subject, and a work placement.”

“Co-op students have the opportunity to:

§  Experience hands-on learning

§  “Test-drive” career options

§  See the relevance of their classroom learning

§  Earn credits through workplace experience

§  Develop the essential skills and habits required in the workplace

§  Gain valuable work experience that will help build a résumé for postsecondary programs and future employment.”

Visual that shows the 4 pathways and has a Hyperlink to: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/coopFact.pdf

Calendar

§  A semester-at-a-glance, noting Pre-Employment Orientation, Integration classes, assignment due dates.

Forms:

§  Hyperlinks to: Printable forms (PDF).

Assignments

§  A list of assignments (hyperlinked), but these are not in lieu of in-class attendance. Attendance is still mandatory.

For Your Safety:

Highlight this as a key component.

For the following, create safety signs (i.e. a yield or construction sign that has the titles):

§  Tips for Students

Hyperlink to: http://www.livesafeworksmart.net/english/coop/pdf/tip_sheets10/YW_Tips%20Sheet_YoungWorkers_Final.pdf

§  Tips for Parents

Hyperlink to: http://www.livesafeworksmart.net/english/coop/pdf/tip_sheets10/YW_Tips%20Sheet_Parents_Final.pdf

Placements:

§  A sample of list of opportunities for students in all pathways.

§  Anecdotal stories from students – past and current, with photos.

§  Hyperlink to the Employer Registry (http://www.employerregistry.ca/ )

Employer Appreciation:

§  Important to acknowledge the support of the community.

§  Highlight employers/ supervisors – maybe “Of the Year” (previous), with a the company logo, perhaps a photo of the employer/supervisor and an anecdotal comment from the Co-op student who nominated them.

§  Link to assignment to thank employers.

Other Experiential Learning Opportunities:

SHSM – Energy Specialist Program

§  A video made by students, showcasing the opportunities and real-life projects available to students.

Visual from our Energy Specialist promotional material and a Hyperlink to: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/studentsuccess/pathways/shsm/shsm_fact_sheet.pdf

OYAP – Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

§  Visual of one of our OYAP students at work, with a Hyperlink to: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/teachers/studentsuccess/coopOYAP.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions:

§  Self-explanatory.

Contact Information:

§  Co-op teachers, their phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

§  Principal and school phone number

§  School address

See below for sample format:

Cooperative Education at School Name