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Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs can be life changing for students, expanding potential pathways for after graduation. Many leaders, though, don’t understand exactly what a successful CTE program looks like, or even why it matters.

Throughout the edLeader Panel “Building CTE Programs That Prepare Students for an AI-Driven Workforce,” Justin McElwee, a former educator and the current Enablement Manager at Wayground (formerly Quizizz), spoke with Tisha Richmond, author and Culinary Arts Teacher in the Medford School District 549C (OR), and Tara Bordeaux, 2018 Texas Teacher of the Year and CTE Specialist in the Austin Independent School District (TX), about the importance of CTE programs in schools and how they’re often misunderstood.

Benefits of Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education is important for many reasons. These programs:

• Let kids choose what they want to study, a freedom they don’t typically have as students
• Give opportunities for students to make classroom and industry connections that can help them prepare for careers
• Provide hands-on learning with teachers who have industry experience, helping students develop life skills they can turn into careers
• Allow students who might struggle in core classes a chance to shine and be proud of themselves in other areas
• Help students see how the curriculum applies to real life, which strengthens classroom engagement
• Often generate more school funding than any other class

Modern-Day CTE Programs

CTE has changed from traditional vocational programs to career pathways for students. The pathways can give students credits towards graduation, and students can also obtain industry-based certifications by engaging in work-based learning. It’s more than just independent courses; it’s programs of study that prepare students for careers they’re passionate about.

Programs must incorporate AI to be relevant for the modern workforce. That means students and teachers must have an understanding of AI and how it’s being used in today’s careers. AI literacy is crucial here. Teachers must show students how to critically examine outputs to determine if they’re accurate. They also need to inform students that, while AI works well as a partner to help generate ideas, manage workloads, etc., it has its downsides and shouldn’t being doing all of the work.

Get the Right People in the Room

Some CTE teachers had careers in a certain industry and decided to teach later in life, while others went through educational training to teach the programs. Either way, their common goal is to bring industries into the classroom and help students get those hands-on experiences.

CTE teachers often have access to industry equipment and can bring in professionals to visit the classroom, further strengthening those real-life connections for students. Students can even demonstrate what they’ve learned to industry professionals who will provide them with relevant feedback. This kind of hands-on learning is invaluable for students and also gives them an even greater sense of pride in their achievements.

Where Programs Get Misunderstood

Administrators often misunderstand CTE as an elective, but it’s really a full-on program of study and requires the attention of one. Some CTE teachers may not have gone through traditional teacher training and don’t have a strong understanding of lesson planning, how to seek support, etc. Because of that, it’s crucial that administrators work with district CTE departments to ensure the teachers are supported and know how to carry out these kinds of tasks.

Administrators should also talk with them about their specific industry expertise to work together on turning that knowledge into classroom experiences. Plus, these teachers might be doing outside-of-classroom work, such as running a program-related business, meaning they’ll need understanding and support in that area, too. Visiting CTE classrooms to see the value of the programs firsthand and understanding the available funding sources are also important.

CTE programs open doors for students and lead them to careers in which they will thrive. When they are recognized as a critical gateway to students’ futures, and the programs get the support they need, students have the chance to grow into successful adults, building a stronger, healthier community.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, Building CTE Programs That Prepare Students for an AI-Driven Workforce, sponsored by Wayground (formerly Quizizz).

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Join the Community

Career, Technical, and Adult Education is a free professional learning community where educators, community leaders, and other stakeholders can share information about helping students and adults acquire the academic and technical skills needed for high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations in the 21st century economy.

Wayground (formerly Quizizz) is a teaching platform that lets you deliver instruction that’s relevant for every student with a boost from AI. With Wayground, teachers can plan engaging yet rigorous assessments, lessons, or activities in a matter of minutes for any grade level or subject.

Article by Jon Scanlon, based on this edLeader Panel