High School Co-op Program Engineering Placements Needed - Province-wide

Jun 7, 2017 - Dec 1, 2017

VOLUNTEERING

If you are interested in volunteering with this program please register for this event and you will be contacted with further information. Or you can contact John.Cochrane "at" novascotia.ca directly to be connected with a local school or student.  

Currently there are two female students, one at Sackville High School and another at Citadel High School who are looking for placements. Both have highlighted a preference for Chemical Engineering. 

 

OVERVIEW OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

Co-operative education offers students an opportunity to understand the changing workplace–the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for success; choices are available to them; and how these choices relate to their skills, abilities, interests, and personality. Co-operative education is developmental and experiential. It is purposeful: students integrate educational interests, personal interests, and values with career exploration, personal growth, planning, and development.

Co-operative education helps students gain awareness and knowledge of career preparation, planning, and exploration. Co-operative education prepares students to engage in employment and enables them to appreciate the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they currently possess; the skills, knowledge, and attitudes employers seek; and help them to identify and develop the key skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to a successful transition from school to the world of work or further study.

Students have opportunities to learn or to apply their learning in authentic settings for real purposes. Through a co-operative education course, students have an opportunity to experience the realities of the community or workplace and the labour market, while affirming or reconsidering their potential career choices. Students acquire transferable skills and a means of documenting them in their LifeWork Portfolios.

Prior to undertaking a work placement, students, in a minimum 25-hour in-school module, complete self-assessment activities, set goals, create actions plans, and focus on the attainment of individual, personal, educational, and career plans. Students begin preparation of a student educational and career plan in conjunction with parents or guardians, the school, friends, employer(s), and the community host. Students complete a career search based on the plans they develop.

To participate in a co-operative education community-based placement, a student must be 16 years of age and be socially ready for the independent nature of community placements. The decision on whether the student participates is the responsibility of the school. Risk management and due diligence must be practised when making all decisions about putting a student in a co-operative education placement.

Goals

The goals of co-operative education are to assist students in
 making informed decisions about their education and career plans
 acquiring relevant knowledge and skills required in today’s society
 practising adult roles within a supportive learning environment
 making successful transitions from school to post-secondary destinations

In-School Component Curriculum Outcomes

(Covered during what is referred to as the “In School Component” – minimum 25 hours)

Students will be expected to
1.1 identify and use strategies to determine appropriate, realistic education and career plans
1.2 demonstrate an understanding of and actively participate in the career-building process
2.1 demonstrate workplace readiness by identifying and assessing personal traits, values, strengths and weaknesses, abilities, and employability skills
2.2 demonstrate an understanding of workplace hierarchies, relationships, etiquette, and confidentiality
3.1 demonstrate an understanding of the major components of the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, including employer and employee rights and responsibilities for workplace health and safety
3.2 demonstrate an understanding of the five main types of workplace hazards and their four main contributing factors
3.3 demonstrate an understanding of hazard control, including the role of reporting workplace hazards, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
3.4 demonstrate understanding of the components of Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)—training, labels, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

Community-Based Learning Expectations
Students will be expected to
 maintain a daily journal and documentation of hours logged
 develop a learning plan that reflects their learning and experiences at the placement
 demonstrate growth in Employability Skills
 report accidents or errors immediately to their supervisor and teacher
 follow correct procedures for absence, as it is important that the teacher or placement support worker knows where they are at all times
 communicate effectively with supervisors and co-workers
 demonstrate a positive attitude toward others and assigned work
 take responsibility for assigned tasks completing all in a timely fashion
 practise confidentiality
 respect all the policies of the employers and of the school
 conduct themselves as responsible students representing their school and community
 identify artifacts for inclusion in their LifeWork Portfolios
 participate and share their learning in reflection sessions on a weekly basis