Teacher Experience: Work Based Learning 2019
 
August 21, 2019
 
This summer from June 24-27, 2019 Poweshiek Iowa Development and Iowa Valley Community College put on a course for educators in the county. Teacher Experience Work-based Learning focused on career clusters: Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Energy and Service Careers.

Five teachers participated and received 2 CEU credits for completing the course. They explored Poweshiek County’s need for technically trained workers and learned how to connect technical and soft skill building into their lesson plans. In addition to keynote and panel presentations, the course featured tours of Poweshiek County businesses, and teachers made connections in the local business community.

From East Marshal High School was Trent Taylor the Guidance Counselor. From BGM High School was Ashley Kriegel who teaches math. Dwight Laidig, Instructor & Work Experience, Cass Stubbs, School Counselor, and Sandra Faulkner, Physical Education, represented Grinnell-Newburg. These teachers all enjoyed the course and had great discussions about how to incorporate what they were learning into their classrooms and interactions with students.

Presentation were given on:
Wind industry careers apprenticeships and careers
Future Ready Iowa
Energy Job Market Overview
Local Job Market Introduction
The local job market mismatch: Manufacturing
The local job market mismatch: Production
Career Pathway Map Overview
Growing and Changing Job Market
Construction Job Market and Career Pathways Map
Classes, Career Academies, and Relevant Skills
Auto and Tech jobs/industries
Career Trends and New Careers
Virtual reality and visualization technology

Panels topics were:
Getting Hired
Human Resources & Job Filling Difficulties

Tour Locations were:
Inside a Windturbine
Alliant Energy
Montezuma Manufacturing
Sutherland Printing
Thombert
Brooklyn Opera House Construction
Manatts
Wes Finch
Grinnell Public Safety Building

Teachers also engaged in hands on activities in energy, chemistry, welding simulation, construction, and motivational value system and valued relating style.

Thank you to Terri Hungerford the Iowa Valley Community College District Intermediary Coordinator who played a major role in planning and facilitating this course while also liaising, presenting, and providing great discussion.
Join us next year as we focus on different career clusters, go on more tours, and have another great class together! -jessica@powi80.com

Thank You to the following employers who gave their time and made this program happen:

Alliant Energy
Association of General Contractors
BASF
Bayer
The Bill Menner Group
Central Rivers AEA
Iowa Works (Future Ready Iowa)
Grinnell College
Grinnell Mutual
Grinnell Police Department
Iowa Utility Association
Iowa Valley Community College District
Jeld-Wen
Key Cooperative
Manatts
Mechdyne
MidAmerican Energy
Montezuma Manufacturing MAGNA
Neumann Brothers
Poweshiek Sheriff's Office
Sutherland Printing
Thombert
Vermeer
Vestas
Wes Finch