DESTINATION COLLEGE: PATHWAYS TO THE FUTURE

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DESTINATION COLLEGE PATHWAYS TO THE
FUTURE CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT BRIDGING THE
GAP Karen Prentice Oxby Karen.Oxby_at_dsb1.edu.on.ca
A SCHOOL COLLEGE WORK INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY
THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, (ME) THE MINISTRY OF
TRAINING, COLLEGES and UNIVERSITIES, (MTCU) THE
COUNCIL OF DIRECTORS OF EDUCATION (CODE) May
10, 2004
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PARTNERS

• Northern College
• District School Board
• Ontario North East
• Northeastern Catholic District School Board

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PROJECT OUTCOMES

• The development of a
• resource guideline
• for teachers and students
• and
• Collaboration between
• Secondary and College staff

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COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT

• An alignment of courses between
• secondary school and the college
• Clear pathways to 5 Northern College programs
• An exploration of strategies for supporting first
  year at risk students
• An extension of articulation agreements as
  appropriate
• A spring forum to share the results

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IDENTIFIED PROGRAMS FOR PATHWAY REVIEW

• Business Studies
• Architectural/Civil Engineering Technology
• Vet Technician
• Paramedic
• Nursing

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PROCESS

• Series of focused workgroups comprising
  individuals from all partners
• Collaboration to clearly identify knowledge,
  skills and attitudes essential to success
• Development of a seamless entry to college level
  programs

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FUNDING through School College Work Initiative

• Funding provides
• Coordinator
• Release time for participants (160 per day per
  participant)
• Travel expenses
• Meeting expenses lunch, copying etc.

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TIMELINE

• September to December 2003
• Individual focus groups
• English/Mathematics
• At Risk Student Strategies
• January to March 2004
• Individual focus groups
• Pathways
• At Risk/Special Education
• April Forum for Special Education/At Risk
• May 2004
• Draft document
• Spring forum

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Planning

• Steering Committee
• Subgroups
• English
• Mathematics
• Architectural/Civil Engineering Technology and
  Construction Management

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Planning

• Subgroups
• Nursing (Bachelor and Practical)
• Paramedic
• Business (Accounting and Marketing)
• Veterinary (Technician and Assistant)
• Computer Studies
• At Risk Special Needs

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Focus groups

• College faculty
• Secondary subject specialists
• Guidance
• Special Education

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English Mathematics

• Started with these groups as a follow-up to forum
  held previous spring
• Each group met at least twice
• Recommendations for general College entrance were
  determined

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MATERIALS

• SECONDARY
• School course calendars
• Course descriptions
• Courses of study
• Overview charts from subject documents
• Achievement charts
• Exam samples

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MATERIALS

• COLLEGE
• College calendars
• prerequisites
• Course descriptions
• Exam samples

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English

• Eng4C is the requirement for entry to all
  programs except the Bachelor program in Nursing,
  the possibility of extending a challenge for
  Communication 1 and possibly Communication 2 to
  students who have Eng4U be discussed with the
  following programs Practical Nursing,
  Architectural/Civil Engineering , and Vet Tech.
• Business program students entering the program
  with a minimum 60 in the additional optional
  course, Communications in the World of Business
  and Technology EBT4O, that an exemption be given
  for Communications 1 CM1113 and possibly
  Communications 2 CM2113

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English (contd)

• The following chart be discussed with the
  appropriate college and secondary personnel for
  possible sharing with prospective Business
  students and Secondary Guidance so that all are
  aware of the importance of the following optional
  courses to the identified programs
• Accounting
• BAF3M
• BAT4M
• Marketing
• BMI3C
• EMS30
• Introduction to Business
• BBI20
• Information Systems
• BTX4C
• BTX4E
• Computer Studies
• ICS3M and ICS4M

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ENGLISH

• Considerable discussion regarding the difference
  in focus between Secondary English curricula and
  College
• Secondary focus on literature
• College focus on reports, technical writing
  related to specific tasks

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Mathematics

• Comparison between the MAP4C and the MCT4C
• There was consensus that that major concepts
  missing from the MAP4C involves the Algebra
  strand with particular emphasis on the algebraic
  manipulations that would be important for the
  Architectural/Civil Engineering Program and the
  other College Technology programs. As a result it
  will be necessary to realign the Math College
  courses for those programs in order to
  accommodate any missing skills.
•  

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Mathematics (cond)

• That consideration be given to the realignment of
  the course content in the College Math 1 courses
  for Architectural/Civil Engineering and the other
  Northern Technology programs given the
  weaknesses identified in the MAP4C course content
  in the area of Algebra.
• That the Math participants meet another time to
  review the content of the College programs and
  the following specific Secondary courses MCF3M
  MCT4C MAP4C. Secondary participants have agreed
  to forward to the College staff samples of exams
  of those courses.

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SPECIFIC COLLEGE PROGRAM MTGS

• Agendas all similar
• Overview of the project Pathways
• Overview of College program
• Prerequisites, content,
• Overview of secondary programming possibilities
• Included discussions regarding main subjects
  relevant to the program
• ie Nursing (English, Math, Science)

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CONTD

• Business ( English, Mathematics, Business
  programs)
• Facilitating College entrance
• Discussion regarding initiatives both sides could
  take
• Several programs met more than once to review
  entrance/exit exams, course content

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Nursing

• ?The secondary College Biology course necessary
  for success in the Practical Nursing program is
  offered in the gr 11 year. It is possible that it
  might be better for students to consider taking
  that course in their gr 12 year.
• No consensus on the recommendation..
•  ?The Bachelor program currently indicates that a
  general math is recommended. To ensure success
  in the Chemistry course it s suggested that the
  wording be changed to read as follows Math
  MCB4U is highly recommended. Followup regarding
  the appropriateness of that course is
  recommended.
•                                                   
          

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Nursing

•  Discussion regarding the need for a good
  foundation in Anatomy, resulted in the suggestion
  that the following course be considered as a
  possible recommended or required course PSE4U,
  from the Physical Education guideline.

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Nursing

• The following suggestions are offered for the
  facilitation of the transition from secondary to
  college programs and enhancing participation in
  the college programs
•   1. continue college outreach to secondary
  students
•       class presentations
• invitations to secondary students to shadow
  current students
•     ask current students for input on
  improvements to recruitment
•    
• 2. encourage more communication with Senior
  Science/Math teachers so that they will be able
  to include references to the careers within their
  classroom instruction
•  

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Nursing

• 3.  encourage job shadowing for teachers and
  college staff to facilitate understanding of each
  program
• 4.  articulate a continuum of content from grades
  9 to college so staff can see progress
• 5.  share course outlines so that secondary staff
  and students can make connections

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Nursing

•  6.  expand the promotional opportunities of the
  college
• 7.  consider bringing classes of students to the
  college to tour facilities and shadow current
  students
• 8.   consider having students take part in
  simulations of tasks appropriate to specific
  careers

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Architectural Civil Engineering Technology

• A pathway will be determined for the program that
  includes
• 1.      MAT4C or MCT4C
• 2.      Physics
• 3.      Construction Technology
• (College courses preferred)
• 4.    Technological Design
• (College Courses preferred)
• 5. ENG4C

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Business

• The following strategies were discussed
•  i.      Provide a contact list for college
  programs
•  ii.      Facilitate college tours for groups of
  students
•  iii.      Buddy up students during a day at
  Northern
•  iv.      Consider financial support for bussing
  for secondary students to visit Northern.
•  v.      Encourage visits at the Grade 9/10 level
  .
• Career studies classes and or the BTT1O classes
• vi. Arrange reciprocal staff visits

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Business

• Discussion took place regarding possible
  modifications for the January Intake in the
  Business program . The secondary and college
  semesters are out of sync by approximately two
  weeks. Possibilities included Modules of work for
  students completing their secondary requirements
  for graduation in first semester. These students
  would be ready for College in February but not
  January.
• It is recommended that accommodations be
  considered.

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Veterinary

•   Math the prerequisite MAP4C is appropriate
• Science queries regarding the necessity of
  the requirement for Gr 11 BiologyCollege and Gr
  12 Chemistry College for the Veterinary
  Assistant program.
• The secondary Science representatives felt
  that the Gr 12 ChemistryCollege was on a par
  with the content of the Grade 10 Science Academic
  course.
• The requirements for the Veterinary Technician
  program were deemed appropriate

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Veterinary

• Computer Studies/Business Studies Veterinary
  Assistant program honors the articulation
  agreement regarding an exemption from the
  Information Technology 1 course if a student has
  BTT1O or BTT2O.
• It was felt that the skills needed by the
  Veterinary Technicians required that they take
  the Information Technology 1 given the importance
  of the skills needed for the course, particularly
  with Excel.

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Veterinary

• The College should consider recommending the
  following courses as beneficial to students
• Introduction to Financial Accounting, BAF3M
• Information Technology Applications in Business
  BTA30
• Information Technology in Business BTX

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OVERALL PROJECT RESULTS

• Greatly improved relations between the two groups
• Development of 8 program Pathways
• Desire for additional meetings and contact

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CHALLENGES

• Planning involving multiple partners
• Requires good relations
• Requires time and willingness to be flexible
• Approx 30 mtg to date
• Logistical issues
• Communication issues with multiple partners
• Requires good relations
• Requires good contact lists of those who need to
  be informed (email was critical)
• Regular communication at each step with the key
  players in each institution
• Timely feedback to participants (agendas,
  minutes, etc.)

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CHALLENGES

• Involvement of participants
• Have participants involved at more than one level
• Participants are best advocates
• Clear guidelines and focus for discussions

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AT RISKCOMPONENT

• Meeting involving Special Education and
• At Risk Coordinators to discuss Transitional
  Planning
• Result Forum for Special Education, Guidance
  teachers grades 7 to 12 to be held April 15,2004
• Planning for the Forum a joint effort between At
  Risk, Special Education, Northern College Student
  Services Special Needs and Student Success Centre

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GUIDANCE and SPECIAL EDUCATION INVOLVEMENT

• Pathways Design for the 5 College Programs
• Strategies for the at risk students
• Transitional Planning
• April Forum

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FORUM AGENDA

• Background Information on School College Work
  Initiative
• Presentations
• Northern College Centre for Disabilities
• Northern College Student Success Centre
• Tour of Facilities
• Small group discussions on facilitating
  Transitional Planning for At Risk students

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NEXT STEPS

• Sharing of information
• at individual schools
• Transitional Planning subcommittee to follow-up
  on suggestions
• Development of a Transitional Plan Form to be
  used by all boards within the area
• Continued collaboration between secondary
  teachers and College faculty
• Follow-up regarding Hospitality Certificate
  program planned by Northern College

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Where we are

• College faculty review the Pathways
• Secondary staff review the Pathways
• College faculty review recommendations
• Pathways will be distributed to teachers, parents
  and students in booklet form
• College staff have already made some changes to
  their programming
• Contact lists for some areas have been
  distributed and more will follow
• More sharing will be organized

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BENEFITS OF COLLABORATION

• Improved communication between Secondary and
  College staff results in
• Better understanding of programming at both
  secondary and college levels
• Improved secondary and college programming for
  all students
• Articulation of Pathways for secondary students
• Greater understanding of opportunities and
  supports for At Risk students
• Improved Transitional planning for students
• Improved guidance for At Risk students
• Modifications in College programs
• SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS

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FUTURE

• continue the work of Year 1 in building a system
  of interactions and exchanges among college
  professors and secondary and senior elementary
  staff including
• classroom visits exchanges
• alignment of course content
• continued development and modifications of
  Pathways
•  

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FUTURE

• strengthen the capacity of secondary and college
  education and career counsellors to work together
  through the following
• opportunities for college staff to speak to
  secondary students
• focus group forums for parents and students
  grades 7 to 10 on technology programs and the
  trades

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FUTURE

• continue the dialogue regarding advanced standing
  opportunities through articulation agreements
• coordinate the collection and sharing of data
  regarding student choices and success at Northern
  College
• continue the exploration of strategies to support
  At Risk student participation in College programs