SCHOOL TO WORK PLANNING

INTRODUCING THE LOG-BOOK TO YEAR 9.

PRESENTATION TOKYOGLE HIGH SCHOOL EXECUTIVE 26/6/02

AIMS:

Executive Meeting:

1To develop an understanding of the need to include vocational-learning activities in K-7 syllabi and

to make explicit to students and their community the classroom learning that develops employment-

related skills in students.

2.For all faculties to accept their responsibility to develop vocational learning activities for their students.

3.To preview the log-book and develop an understanding of its intended use for Semester 2, 2002.

Faculty Participation in 2002.

3.For each faculty to identify and map explicit vocational learning activities in their Year 9 program and to choose at least one learning activity per Semester that can be used to by students to record specific employment-related skills in their log-book.

PREVIEW OF THE LOG-BOOKS.

1.Discussion

‘What is the purpose of secondary school education?”

Comment:Year 8 example (Survey Study Skills Day)

– ‘job of their choice.. students explicitly related to goals

to work (implicitly included further education & training)

- only 2 students nominated friendship.

“How are we currently making explicit links between what we do in the classroom and the skills students require for employment”

Comment:Year 8 example – Math stood out as important, English to a lesser extent

but for most other subjects I had to make explicit links.

“What do employers want”

Handout:Distribute handout with list (Ref: SWP Teacher resource, 2001).

Comment:Note at Year 12 level 70% of students are going into work or training,

employment-related skills are important.

2. Relating classroom activities to employment-related skills in Stage 5.

Handout:Distribute copies of log-book to Executive

Comment:*Introduce Log-book & its background

*The log-book provides an effective means for recording the employment-related skills of classroom activities.

Activity:* Review the examples in the log-books for Years 9-10 in

“Classroom” section;

- Examples of skills

- examples of log-book entries

- Blank proformas including recording observations on careers/training & further education.

Comment:*Examples demonstrate the learning/recording process

1.Faculty/teacher has nominated a learning activity that illustrates employment-related skills

2.In class, used student discussion to develop a list of employment-related skills developed by the activity (small group or class activity)

3.recorded relevant employment related skills in their log-book.

*Examples demonstrate the wide-range of classroom activities can be used eg

- end-of-topic eg writing a story, music composition,

- special training programs eg CPR

-special activities eg eating out, excursions

-procedures eg sculpture, scientific method, art diaries

- assignments eg Egyptian assignment

*Observing careers & training (top box) etc can be as simple as

- noting careers seen on a video, movie, in novels etc

-asking guest speakers in classroom & excursion to

comment on cureent career, pathways and education

training.

Comment:Parents make consistent requests that students have the opportunity to expand their

career awareness through guest speakers speaking about their careers.

3. Implementation of Classroom Log-Book entries by the Faculty:

The process:

  1. Information session to all staff at the Staff Development Day, 22/7/02.
  1. Follow-up staff Meeting, 1 ½ hrs, faculty time to

a.map Year 9 vocational learning activities

b.nominate classroom activities for Year 9 students in Semester 2 that can be used to record explicit statements on employment-related skills in their log book.

Suggested Process during Faculty time at the Staff Meeting

Step 1.a Determine the vocational-learning activities that are currently taking place in

the Year 9 subject syllabi for your faculty and map them using the proforma that will be provided.

b.Determine any additional activities that could be developed to enhance the

current program or fulfill the explicit requirements of a syllabus that is not

being currently delivered. Map these on the proforma.

Comment:These classroom learning activities could become the focus of recording employment-related skills in the students log-book.

Handout:Mapping proforma & Examples of mapping from other schools.

Reference pages for explicit statements plus Career Education Outcomes (BOS)

Step 2.a. Nominate at least one learning activity for each Subject they are delivering in

Semester 2 to use in the classroom for students to register the employment-related skills in the student log-books.

b.Nominate the time this recording will take place.

c.Practice writing log-book entries, anticipating the employment –related skills

that are developed by this classroom activity.

d.Discuss how best to deliver the activity in the classroom. Remember the

learning process is just as important as the recording process.

e.Timetable the event for your faculty.

f.Return a copy of your map and planned activity to the Careers Adviser.

4. Why implement the Log-book and include vocational-learning activities in subject programming?

  1. Make explicit to students the relevance of your subject area to future work, training and further education. This can assist with motivation and learning in the classroom.
  2. The school can clearly articulate to its community the approach it is taking to prepare students for future work, training & education.
  3. Direct benefits the students, improving employability. The log-book will provide a database of achievements and skills that will be useful for school leavers to write resumes. It continually assists students to articulate their skills and abilities for resumes and interviews. Develops self-awareness and self-confidence; assists in improving participation & performance. An aid for teachers writing references.
  4. Explicit (and implicit) content statements exist in all current K-10 syllabi. Work, Employment & Enterprise is a Cross Curriculum content statement that is being written in all new K-10 syllabi. Note the current statements on Work, Employment & Enterprise in the 7-10 subject writing briefs distributed for comment. DET requires all schools to comply with the BOS Career Education outcomes for its students.
  5. Mapping vocational learning activities in Year 9 will assist you to determine your current compliance to the syllabus and enable you to seek enhancements or fulfillment of the syllabus outcomes.
  6. State Govt. “Ready to Work” plan puts a high priority on transition planning for Yrs 9-12.
  7. On a national Level the Commonwealth Government has reached agreement from all States on Educational goals and outcomes. The MCEETYA report details Goal 1.5. …. when students leave school “they should have employment related skills and an understanding of the work environment, career options and pathways as a foundation for, and positive attitudes towards, vocational education & training, further education, employment & life-long learning.” Funding is also being directed towards transition planning for school-leavers.

5. Delivery Options

  1. Faculty pages or Centralised Log-book and students/teachers access them when needed.
  2. School to Work Planning week or flexibility to record at the time of classroom delivery or combination of both.
  3. Support funding available for School to Work Planning activities.

7. Other Issues.

  1. Log-book contains other features for recording student progress & achievements;
  2. Tracking & action planning (goal-setting) sheets
  3. school & community achievements
  4. workplace learning
  5. sample resume
  6. space for storing worksheets, interview reports etc for future reference.
  1. What needs to be done?
  2. Working group to consider issues of storage, student access, coordination, collation, delivery time etc.
  3. Student workshops for introducing the logs, training students, collating the logs, completing tracking sheets etc.
  4. Support from Head teachers for the promotion and delivery of the log-books (outside faculty responsibility for logging at least one entry/Semester)

Steve Ormond,

Careers Adviser,

Kyogle High School.