Yes, I know, it's been a while since the last post but I'm happy to say that it's not because we haven't been busy. Our activities during the months of November and December yielded some amazing milestones at the close of 2017 and the start of 2018. These include:
0 Comments
I'll keep this one short...Happy Manufacturing Day 2017! Let's all take a minute today (and everyday) to figure out how we can increase positive perception and education to support manufacturing workforce needs in the US.
Portable. Stackable. Transferable. 3rd-party approved and endorsed. These are terms you'll hear bandied about upon entering the world of credentials and certifications especially in technology education and training settings. But what does it all mean and why should you care? In this article we'll share what we've learned and how we're applying those learnings as part of our efforts to develop and deliver a top-notch Manufacturing Technology career and technical education (CTE) program here at Valley Career and Technical Center in Fishersville, VA. First, lets address the difference between the term credential versus certification. The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) sites that "an education- and work-related credential can be defined as a verification of an individual’s qualification or competence issued by a third party with the relevant authority to issue such credentials (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010). The term credential encompasses educational certificates, degrees, certifications, and government-issued licenses." Whereas, certification is a term that refers to a specific type of qualification level. In 2012 the General Assembly passed, and our Virginia Governor signed into law, HB 1016 and SB 489, to strengthen post-secondary education and workplace readiness opportunities for all students. The legislation says, in part "Beginning with first-time ninth grade students in the 2013-2014 school year, requirements for the standard diploma shall include a requirement to earn a career and technical education credential that has been approved by the Board, that could include, but not be limited to, the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment.” As a follow-up the Board released its approved list of industry certifications, occupational competency assessments and professional licenses. The current Virginia Board list can be viewed here. Check out your state Department of Education site to find the same.
This week our efforts continued in the spirit of forging industry, community, and school partnerships and understanding how we may be able to support one another's efforts. This included meetings with Dan Layman, CEO of Community Foundation of Central Blue Ridge, Larry Kroggel, Human Resources Director at Daikin Applied, and Chris Martin, Physics teacher and head coach of the Shenandoah Valley Governors School Robotics team. This week provided for a deeper dive into curriculum and related equipment research. It began with a visit joined by my colleague Amy Pultz, Assistant Principal at VCTC, to Blue Ridge Community College's Advanced Manufacturing Facility to meet with Matt Goss, Director of Technology Intensive Manufacturing Service Center, Dr.Bob Young, VP of Instruction and Student Services, and Marlena Jarboe, Dean of Academic Affairs. This week was all about understanding how best to reach our desired audience, creating some critical marketing assets to help our cause, as well as our first site visit to a maker space to inform the design of our physical space. Resulting milestones included:
Weeks 1 & 2, from Augusut 7-18, were chock full of research, reach out, and relationship building. Lots of excitement shared by all involved (below) with regard to this program and its potential. • completed application for, and successfully received, access to, supporting EverFi curriculum online;
• completed initial in-house "finger on the pulse" meetings/discussions with related VCTC faculty • met with Amanda Glover, Executive Director , Augusta Econ. Dev. Dept. regarding state of industry, contacts, and support; • met with CloudFactoryWorx to discuss creating unique, first-of-a-kind, online Fab-in-a-box - a real-world, simulated factory process online learning tool specifically for our program. • meeting confirmed with Dan Layman, on Sept.6 from Community Foundation • meeting confirmed with Daikin Applied on Sept.7 from 1-3pm • meeting confirmed Glenn Bull from UVA's Curry School of Ed., Eric Johnson and team from FabLab Classroom at Buford Elementary in October • meeting confirmed with NIck Swayne, on Thurs. Aug.24, Executive Director of 4-Va, JMU X Lab, and X Labs Consulting • Wed.August 23 meeting confirmed with Matt Haskins and Maura Stout of Wilson HS Technology Education • reached out to CCWA in Richmond with request to bring their Mobile Advanced Manufacturing Lab to support program marketing efforts • secured MT1 training grant and slot in Richmond Sept.13-15 • working with Amy Pultz to arrange visits to Stuarts Draft, intro to career coaches, and attendance at CTE Directors meeting to share program information. |
why "Health of the line"The on-time completion, and finished quality, of a manufactured product is dependent upon how well things go at each and every step of the process. This is known as "health of the line". AuthorAndrei Dacko heads the development of the Manufacturing Technology program at VCTC. He brings over 20yrs combined experience across education, manufacturing, sales, and business development. Archives
January 2018
Categories
All
|