Career Technical Education
at home
As schools take precautionary measures to help flatten the curve, teachers at MUSD have adopted a new distance teaching model where teaching and learning is done in a virtual classroom. But how do courses requiring hands-on, and learnby-doing participation to acquire career and technical skills manage distance learning? Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are high school elective classes that provide and prepare students with academic and technical skills for possible career choices. CTE classes offered
in MUSD include culinary arts, digital photography, automotive technology, engineering, fashion/ interior design, and health careers to name a few. Many core academic classes such as English, math, and history, have adapted to using technology methods in the classroom, making the transition to the virtual classroom more seamless. CTE, however, relies heavily on the learn-by-doing component taught by a field expert and often utilizing special equipment made available in the classroom by MUSD. With the transition to distance learning, CTE instructors are thinking out-of-the-box to implement new ways to provide their students with at-home lessons to continue mastering career skills— With some CTE teachers turning to popular social media apps. Mr. Andrew Griggs, the culinary instructor of BE. Cuisine, at MUSD’s dependent charter high school BE.Tech, keeps up with his culinary students by producing and posting weekly challenge videos on the currently trending social media platform TikTok. “At BE.Tech, learning is driven by our students’ interests […] During this transition to distance learning, we are continuing to be intentional about aligning students’ learning to their interests,”
stated Mr. Griggs. Recognizing how students express their interests is a major component of teaching in general, but especially for CTE and during distance learning. Mr. Griggs believes that by utilizing social media platforms students enjoy and are already using, it allows teachers to connect more with their students, especially in the world of CTE. On TikTok and other media platforms, Mr. Griggs uploads culinary-related content to keep his students engaged, including weekly challenges. For BE.Cuisine’s first challenge, students attempted the “Cup of Noodle Challenge”, where they were challenged to create a dish using cup noodles as the main ingredient. The culinary students then posted a picture of their dish with a description of what ingredients, methods, and plating technique were used and students were scored on the quality and creativity of the final presentation. Using accessible and simple supplies, like cup of noodles, allows students to easily continue their skills at home. “This pandemic is a crazy time for everyone. But, this is a unique opportunity for educators to double down on the learning that students are already interested in. A ton of learning has always happened outside of school,” concluded Mr. Griggs. Ms. Angie Anaya teaches Interior
Design and Fashion Merchandising for students of Manteca, Sierra and East Union High School. To prepare for their first week of distance learning, Ms. Anaya and her students created their own work-from-home schedules and researched how to set-up work spaces at home. Like other CTE classes, the Interior Design and Fashion Merchandising students use technology to connect and collaborate with each other. One assignment Ms. Anaya adapted for distance learning had her students designing vignettes, which is a small group of items that have been curated and arranged to form a display from the decorative items students already have at home. Students then showcased their design and merchandising skills by photographing their vignettes and adding the images to a PowerPoint for presentation. According to Ms. Anaya, the outcomes turned out really well as students were able to utilize their own resources from home. “Distance learning and teaching has been an adjustment, but also an insight into how adaptable we have all become, including students,” concluded Ms. Anaya. Being that MUSD is already a one-toone district with one device per one student, and already implementing digital applications into the classroom, virtual classroom lessons are just as effective and relevant as physical classroom lessons. At Weston Ranch High School, the Digital Photography students have replaced the school’s digital
cameras with the cameras they have access to at home- most being a cell phone. Though distance learning has inhibited certain elements of direct learning, photography students are still able to delve into the composition of images and techniques for capturing photos by watching and researching artists, and editing and creating their pieces using Adobe Photoshop. Mr. Patrick Windschitl, the digital photography teacher at Weston Ranch High, has been using Microsoft Teams to provide lessons to the photography students. Mr. W creates learning videos for his students to watch and apply the skills taught at home. Most of the work Mr. W now assigns aims to highlight the personal lives of his students. Students photograph and artistically incorporate more of their family members and pets onto their work, which allow them to reveal more of their personalities and hobbies. Microsoft Teams allows students to share what they have created and send feedback to their fellow peers. “I’ve been incredibly impressed,” said Mr. W, “The students who were a bit shyer and quieter in class are really shining. They’ve found a voice and
are doing amazing at critiquing and discussing their art, and pieces by the artists we learn about.” Through the familiarity of their own devices and home, students have been able to express more of themselves. For teachers and CTE teachers alike, distance learning is comprised of adapted classroom lessons. Collectively, teachers commented that students are communicating more with them throughout the day whereas before, student communication took place primarily in the classroom. For CTE teachers, most are finding distance learning as a way for students to express themselves and their creative sides. With present-day technology and media platforms, teachers and students are connecting differently. In a time of struggle, choosing to focus on the positive side of things can help individuals cope and better manage stressful situations. The coronavirus pandemic opens new perspectives for many and importantly, in MUSD, learning and connecting has not seized.
