Three initiatives, Applied Academics, Contextual Learning, and Tech Prep (Technical Preparation) impact middle and high school curriculum. All three encompass change in the  integration of curriculum and skill acquisition for the student.

Applied Academics is designed to integrate the traditional academic areas such as Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies into Technical Education. The development of the academic skills students need for the workplace and for state tests should be a shared responsibility of all teachers. Furthermore, students are more likely to master the most essential academic skills when they are taught and reinforced in a career setting. There are a number of excellent lessons plans developed to teach academic skills in context.

Contextual Learning focuses on the multiple aspects of any learning environment, whether a classroom, a laboratory, a computer lab, a worksite, or a wheat field. It encourages educators to choose and/or design learning environments that incorporate as many different forms of experience as possible—social, cultural, physical, and psychological—in working toward the desired learning outcomes. The National School-to-Work program is based in Context Learning.

Tech-Prep has evolved into a program aimed at articulating up to four years of secondary and two years of postsecondary school programs and combining the teaching of academic and occupational skills to promote continued education and acquisition of advanced technical skills while helping students make the transition from school to work.

APPLIED ACADEMICS IN THE FIELD    CONTEXTUAL LEARNING    SERVICE LEARNING    WORKPLACE LEARNING

APPLIED ACADEMICS IN THE FIELD
British Columbia Applied Academics  This Web site is for students, teachers and parents who want to connect classroom learning with the world around them. Source: B.C. Ministry of Education

National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation An excellent example of the academic skills required in a specific field which one would not associate with reading, writing and arithmetic. Source: NATEF

Nebraska Tech Prep Applied Academics This curriculum guide provides an outline for developing Applied Academic courses. Source: Nebraska Tech Prep

Applied Academics Overview  A brief overview of Applied Academics philosophy. Source: Hocking College

CONTEXTUAL LEARNING
Contextual Learning  This ERIC report for adult education provides an excellent summary of the application of contextual learning. Source: Susan Imel

Contextual Teaching and Learning  Several papers written by middle and high school teachers on the use of contextual learning. Source: Kennesaw State University

Contextual Learning from NWREL  Some examples of project and community-based learning are among the links and topics from Northwest Regional Education Laboratory. Source: NWREL

CONTEXTUAL LEARNING = PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Area 10 School-to-Work Resources Organized in easy to use categories, this site has some excellent links for students and educators. Source: Area 10, Iowa

Living Lessons: How Projects Engage Kids and Deepen Understanding You will want to explore some of these fine examples for making the classroom a richer learning place. Source: NWREL

Project-Based Learning  A comprehensive discussion of project-based learning with rubrics and steps for implementing the projects. Source: San Mateo County, CA

Project-Based Instructional Module The George Lucas Educational Foundation has created an online professional development module that is designed for a two- to three-hour class or session, divided into two parts. Source: George Lucas Educational Foundation

School-to-Work in New York  Activities and programs in the state of New York. Source: New York Dept. of Education

SERVICE LEARNING
A teaching strategy used to actively engage students in their own educations through experiential learning in course-relevant contexts. It fosters lifelong connections between students, their communities, and the world outside the classroom.
National Service Learning Clearinghouse
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Corporation for National Service
Education Commission of the States
Iowa Service Learning
National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC)
Northwest Regional Labs
Points of Light Foundation
Service Learning Colorado
The EXCHANGE for Service-Learning

WORKPLACE LEARNING
Work Based Learning Guide - Learning Activities
Workforce, Career and Technical Programs and Standards
Workplace Curricula
Workbased Learning Checklists
Workplace Learning Guide

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