Connecting Students with the Trades

This week’s episode focuses on ways to connect students to life after graduation. Beth chats with Alan Wheeler, named the 2023 Teacher of the Year by the Oregon Association for Career and Technical Education, about how his Construction Technology classes at Redmond High School prepare students for the workplace. Alan explains his emphasis on practical skills, beginning with the basic understanding of how to use each tool safely and progressing to larger, more meaningful projects that can reach beyond the classroom. Last spring, his classes worked with Oasis Village in Redmond to build bedroom shelters for the unhoused. 

And, of course, these courses are not geared only toward students who plan careers in the construction industry. Alan explains that students who may be struggling in more academic courses and those who may favor hands-on approaches often appreciate a course that brings balance to the curriculum. CT students learn math, physics, and chemistry skills; they learn to read blueprints; and they learn the logical sequence of following directions. In addition, they learn at least rudimentary skills in woodworking, plumbing, and electricity - useful skills for anyone regardless of career plans. 

 

Resources:

All Redmond 2023 ACTE Award Winners

Alan Wheeler’s Students Build Homes for the Houseless 

High-paying jobs that don't need a college degree? Thousands of them sit empty