Becoming a Resource to Enhance Authentic Learning in the Newburyport School System

Becoming a Resource to Enhance Authentic Learning in the Newburyport School System

I am interested in supporting the Business Coalition’s initiative to support the Newburyport School System by providing Authentic Learning related opportunities. I would like to offer my experience and perspectives as noted below:

To ensure we are working on meaningful relationships, please complete the form online at or submit this form with the information noted to Heather Hansen at or by mail to Newburyport Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1002, Newburyport, MA 01950.

Please contact me to discuss the Advisory Council - how it supports this initiative and what it involves in providing advice on key areas of interest, curriculum and programs.

Your Name
Business / Organization Name
Address
Telephone
Email
Website
Business/Organization Description
Type of Business / Organization /  Banking
 Bio-Technology
 Communications
Education
 Engineering
 Financial Services / Government
Health and Beauty
 Healthcare
 Not-for-Profit
Professional Services
Real Estate /  Restaurant/Travel/Leisure
 Retail
 Scientific
 Transportation
Other ______
______
Area of Interest(s) to Contribute to this Initiative
Please check all that apply
See page 2 for information about these opportunities. / Internship (host a student in your business/organization to work per an agreed schedule)
Be a guest speaker (share your perspective with students about your expertise, organization/business, important trends, etc.)
Science Fair Judging/Participation (seasonal)
Future Careers – (share your experienced person’s perspective on your career field to help bring awareness and inspiration to a potential career track)
Externship (host a teacher for a work experience in your business/organization)
Partnership Grant (work with a teacher on developing an authentic learning project for students)
Job Shadowing (invite a student into your business to observe the environment and what people’s work life is like - 2-4 hours)
Other ______
______
Area(s) of Specific Expertise

Page 1

Authentic Learning Related Opportunities to

Enhance Education in the Newburyport School System

The NEF Business Coalition strives to maintain strong working relationships and ongoing collaboration among our community's businesses, organizations and residents with skills and expertise to share and our schools’ educators. These collaborations support and enrich our schools’ curricular objectives through a variety of workplace learning activities noted below. In turn, collaborations are based on individuals who are able to and are interested in contributing to enriching the authentic learning experience of our teachers and students.

Internships

The goal of the Internship Program is to place students in workplace sites so they can experience work related to one of the student’s career interests. The internships can be project-based or semester based. Students participating in the program are given the opportunity to discover whether they have the interest and/or foundational skills necessary for success after graduation. Internship placements this year not only strengthened students interest in the careers they wanted, but helped students decide on different career paths after experiencing a real work environment in their career exploration.

Guest Speaker

Guest Speakers are requested by teaches at all grade levels to enhance what students are learning in their classroom. Speakers provide an independent perspective on topics that are authentic to them and connect to what is being taught.

Science Fair Judge

Calling all scientists! Newburyport High School Science Fair is looking for judges for their annual Science Fair. The one day event takes place at Newburyport High School.

Career Development

Newburyport High School students participate in a career development curriculum.This begins as freshman, when students complete career interest inventories. In the past,sophomores at NHS have attended a regional one-day speaker series. Sophomores also have an opportunity to hear community members fromvarious professions speak about their careers. Speakers are chosen based on the interestsstudents identified in their career interest inventories (as freshman), as well as a questionnairedistributed during designated classes.

Externships

Teachers have the opportunity to spend time working on a project or in a temporary position on a business or organization during the summer and develop or refine lesson plans based on theiractual experience.

Partnership Grants

The Partnership Grant program joins business partners with teachers who then work together to create meaningful educational experience that allows students to see how their skills apply to the world of work. The program connects the standards-based curriculum content to the skills that relate to real life experiences. As a result, students better understand the relevance of their class work. In turn, students have chosen career paths based on specific fields explored through the partnership program.

Job Shadowing

A high school student spendsa portion of the day with an individual in a local business or organization to gain insight into what in might be like to work in such a company or organization. Frequently, they enhance their presentation skills by reporting back to the class about the experience.

NEF Business Coalition Annual Reports, with additional program information and descriptions of past Partnership Grants, are available online at

Page 2

Newburyport Education Foundation Business Coalition, P.O. Box 1002, Newburyport, MA 01950