Download C 4 Career Cluster Implementation Model

Building Career Clusters
A 10-Step Blueprint for
Career Clusters
Dr. Douglas Moore
Director of Guidance
Columbus East High School
230 South Marr Road
Columbus, IN 47201
[email protected]
(812) 376-4360
Marsha VanNahmen
College & Career Program Director
Community Education Coalition
PO Box 3000
One Noblitt Plaza
Columbus, IN 47202-3000
[email protected]
(812) 379-3175
C4 Third Party
Independent Evaluations

Objective (2000)
 Identify quality indictors of
successful Career Clusters, and
 Evaluate effectiveness of C4
Career Clusters using those
quality indicators as an
assessment tool

Objective (2001)
 Evaluate 3 new clusters and 2
pilot clusters using the C4 Career
Cluster Implementation Model
developed in 2000
C4 - Columbus Area
Career Connection

Brown, Bartholomew,
Decatur, and Jackson
Counties in
South Central Indiana

Indiana Workforce
Region 11
Indiana Workforce Regions
KEY
Denotes Areas
1B, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11 & 14
Denotes Areas
3, 4, & 12
Denotes Areas
1A, 2, 6 & 10
Denotes Area 13
Denotes
C4 Area
9 High Schools, 1 Adult Education
Center, and 1 Alternative Program
With a Regional Population of
Over 7,000 Students

Brown County High School

Columbus East High School

Columbus North High School

Crothersville High School

Greensburg High School

Hauser High School

Seymour High School

South Decatur High School

North Decatur High School

McDowell Adult Education Center

Jefferson Alternative Program
Over 1,200 Students
Enrolled in 9
Career Clusters

AGRI-SCIENCE AND BUSINESS CLUSTER

Horticulture & Landscaping

Small Animals & Horses

Natural Resources

Business Management

Production Sciences

BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE

Entrepreneurship & Management

Accounting

Marketing

International Business

National Academy of Finance

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY CLUSTER

Programming

Networking

Computer & Software Applications

Operating Systems

Web Design

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Mechanical & Electrical Systems

Construction Management

Architectural Design

Interior Design

Building Trades

ENGINEERING MANUFACTURING CLUSTER

Engineering CAD/CAM

Project Lead the Way

Precision Machining

Welding/Fabrication

Electronics

HEALTH OCCUPATIONS CLUSTER

Dental Assisting

Nursing & Allied Health

Medical Office

Veterinary Assisting

Central Service Technician

HUMAN SERVICES CLUSTER

Culinary Arts/Restaurant Dining

Nutrition/Foods

Cosmetology

Child Care

Law Enforcement

MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS CLUSTER

Printing & Production

Technical Graphics

Desktop Publishing

Video Broadcast Production

Digital Creation

TRANSPORTATION CLUSTER

Diesel

Electronics/Electrical Systems

Small Engine Technology

Engine Performance

Suspension & Steering
3 C4 DELIVERY SITES
Columbus East High School
Columbus North High School
McDowell Adult Education Center
School to Work Model

Develop an applied and integrated
curriculum

Implement classroom-based
developmental career guidance

Develop work-based learning
opportunities

Create articulation between K-12 and
post-secondary education

Work in partnership with business,
industry, labor, parents, and the
community

Provide professional development
activities
North Central Regional
Kathleen Paris
Educational Laboratory 1994
C4 Career Cluster
Implementation Model

Develop a strong sense of
shared vision

Develop a common “core” of
cluster CBI’s

Feature a defined leadership
structure

Focus on attracting and
accommodating diverse student
populations

Develop an applied and
integrated curriculum
C4 Career Cluster
Implementation Model
(Continued)

Implement classroom-based
developmental career guidance

Create articulation between K-12
and post-secondary education

Develop work-based learning
opportunities

Work in partnership with
business, industry, labor, and the
community

Provide professional
development activities
Develop a Strong Sense of
Shared Vision

As a group of diverse professionals
(professional educators), how did
you come to define the vision and
direction for your combined cluster?

What short-term and long-term goals
(2 year/5 year) have you set for your
cluster? (accreditation, articulation,
CTA)

What (hopes/expectations/direction)
do you see for the future of this
cluster? (facilities, additional
programs, etc.)

How do you resolve differences
among yourselves when conflicts
arise regarding blending of courses
and programs in your cluster?
Develop a Common “Core”
of Cluster CBI’s

Were there many common or
duplicate standards among the CBI’s
from the former individual courses?

How have you screened these CBI’s
to develop a “common core”? (i.e.
soft skills, safety, etc.)

How did you identify and prioritize
the competencies that you included
in your “common core” of CBI’s?

What competencies do you expect
every student in your cluster to
possess?
Feature a Defined
Leadership Structure





What leadership style
(naturally/logically/comfortably)
emerged as your group began to work
together as a cluster?
How did that happen?
Have you consciously recognized a
leader or leadership style, do you
delegate within the group or do some
personalities simply take on
responsibility? (i.e. communication,
budget)
Does the group as a whole function
well/efficiently with this leadership
style?
If not, what steps are underway to
re–define the leadership style/role?
Focus on Attracting and
Accommodating Diverse
Student Populations





What recruiting techniques do you
employ to attract students of varying
ability levels?
How do you modify your lesson
plans/teaching methods to
accommodate a variety of learning
styles/ability levels?
How do you make your material
challenging yet appropriate for all
students/ability levels?
How do you structure your classroom
to make it a comfortable learning
environment for all students? (climate)
What support system/steps do you
have in place when a motivated
student is struggling to be successful
in your cluster?
Develop an Applied and
Integrated Curriculum

What techniques do you use to
integrate classroom curriculum into
practical, real-world applications?

When developing the cluster, how did
you identify the most critical concepts
and weave those throughout the
curriculum?

How do you help your students
understand the application of those
most critical concepts?

What advice would you give other
clusters on curriculum integration and
application?
Implement Classroom-based
Developmental Career
Guidance

How did you create and build your
career guidance framework?

What tools do you use with your
students to help them select their
career pathway within the cluster?
(e.g. interest inventories)

How do you stay current with
employers, post-secondary institutions
and/or other stakeholders on their
requirements and expectations for
students coming out of your program?

What advice would you give other
clusters in developing their classroom
career guidance framework?
Create Articulation Between
K-12 and Post-secondary
Education

What have you learned from your
experiences in formulating
articulation agreements?

What advice would you give
other clusters in preparing
articulation agreements?

What articulation agreements do
you have in place?
Develop Work-based
Learning Opportunities





What do you view are the most
purposeful work-based learning
opportunities for your students?
Do you coordinate facility visits for
your entire class or are students free
to visit facilities applicable for their
individual career choice?
Are all your students required to job
shadow in their field of interest?
When and how much time are your
students expected to spend at their
job site and how does that change as
they advance through your program?
What advice would you give other
clusters in developing work-based
learning opportunities?
Work in Partnership with
Business, Industry, Labor and
the Community

How have you built alliances and
relationships with the professional
industry throughout the different
Region 11 communities?

What obstacles have you encountered
while attempting to involve your
program in local industry?

What civic activities are your students
involved in?

What professional organizations do
your students have exposure to or
involvement with?

What advice would you give other
clusters in partnering with the
community?
Provide Professional
Development Activities

What opportunities does C4 provide for
you to update your skills and keep
current in your profession?

Do you attend conferences and
workshops regarding new regulations
or innovations in your field?

How difficult is it to keep your
instructional skills honed while still
staying current on changes in your
specific profession?

What advice would you give
instructors in other clusters on
professional development?
How Can I Use This In
My Program?

To design and develop new
Career Pathways and
Career Clusters

To evaluate and assess
existing Career Pathways
and Career Clusters

To establish rating criteria
to evidence continuous
improvement