Innovative Career Exploration Laboratory

SWLSB has opened an innovative Career Exploration Laboratory at their Pont Viau Adult and Vocational Education Centre.  The Career Explo Lab contains 16 modules that allow students to practice real world work tasks within a supportive environment.  The modules employ the most recent technology to help students simulate a work environment.  For example, the Health module includes a tread mill which feeds heart rate information to a computer to help students analyze their fitness level.  The Meteorology module transmits current weather information from the roof of the building to a computer in the Career Lab for students to use in creating a forecast.  The module is open to all students in the Board from Elementary Cycle Three and upwards.  This year, the focus is on introducing Secondary Cycle Two, Year One students to the Career Explo Lab.  POP teachers are receiving training in the centre.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board Digital Portfolio

SWLSB Educational Services and Vanier College collaborated on the creation of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board Digital Portfolio. This web-site displays the products created by our students who were guided by some of our exemplary teachers. Classes from each cycle – both Elementary and Secondary are represented, including a Cycle II Secondary POP Class.

Students in Vanier College’s Office Systems Technology: Micropublishing & Hypermedia Program designed this digital environment for each class involved in the project. As part of this initiative, some of SWLSB’s Secondary 5 students interested in exploring the field of digital design shadowed the Vanier students through their processes, and even had a chance to have a guided tour of the College and a visit to some other classes.

Here is the project's website: http://micromedia.vaniercollege.qc.ca/swlsb/2008/

 

GOAL Accomplishments:

• Take Our Kids to Work Day is active at the Grade 9 level in all of our high schools
• Career Cruising is in active and wide use in all of our high schools
• Entrepreneurship projects are implemented in all of our high schools and many elementary schools, and frequently receive recognition at the regional, and sometimes national level
• Career Fairs offer Sec. IV and V students an array of information about educational and career opportunities
• SWLSB recently established a Career Exploration Lab with computerized modules and hands-on activities which allow in depth and realistic exploration of a variety of careers for students in Secondary I thru Secondary V.

In addition, although not supported by the GOAL Consultant, our many of our high schools are involved in developing skills for the future in the following ways:

• English Language Arts teachers encourage their students to become authors, and submit their work for publication in school newspapers, the Montreal Gazette, the Jewish Public Library's First Fruits Competition, and other publications such as The Polar Express etc.
• Arts and Drama groups abound, producing plays, and organizing exhibits of student artists' work.
  
• Science and Technology Careers are promoted through the Robotics Competitions, LEGO robotics, and previously, but not currently, the Laurier Challenge
• Increasingly, students interested in careers in Media can take Media Studies courses, and participate in film and media production.  Joliette High School recently participated in a large film festival of student produced work, and Laurier Senior and Laurentian Regional High Schools both produce television programs for S'Cool