PC Construction was invited to participate at the Winooski Middle School’s Career Carnival, an opportunity to reach out to young people and help them establish a vision beyond school and find purpose in their studies. So how do we get a group of energetic, active middle school students to learn about careers in construction in 15 minutes? Give them something to do.
We split them into small groups and gave each group a series of aerial photographs of PC Construction’s current project at Stowe Mountain Lodge in Vermont. Their job was to look for clues to arrange all of the photos in chronological order. The students were actively engaged, identifying clues such as the number of stories completed, the progress on the roof structure, the amount of equipment on site, and even the season of the year. As they searched for clues, we pointed out careers associated with the images: Do you see how the materials are close to the site but still stored out of the way? The superintendent is responsible for managing the site and must think ahead. See that orange fence around the crane? The safety engineer is responsible for keeping everyone safe and complying with all of the safety laws. Is it harder to work in the winter? The project manager has to make sure that there is enough money to pay for snow removal and heating.
The activity was a success. The students had fun and left with a better understanding of the wide range of career opportunities in construction, each with its own set of responsibilities, skills, and level of education.
Special thanks to PC Construction Staff Estimator Joe Daigneault, Project Manager Ev Howard, and Senior Project Engineer Kyle Nadeau for preparing and presenting the activity and to the teachers and staff at Winooski Middle School.
Bob Correll, PC Construction Training and Development Manager, works with Winooski Middle School students during their Career Carnival
How would you define the level of interest among middle schoolers? My sense is that by the time an adolescent reaches the ninth grade, they see themselves as either achieving success systematically over time or they have resigned themselves to failure or indulge in “magical thinking; such as “I’ll become a rock star, sports superstar, successful criminal, etc. I believe there should be more than an introduction to the possibilities in construction. What I feel is needed is an optional curriculum beginning in middle school. We are not all college material and this country is in need of a strong middle class comprised of blue collar workers. There is some excellent material available for an initiative such as this.
- Scotty Gecks
This comment was originally posted on Linked in response to the posting of this blog. It has been reposted on the PC Construction website in its entirety.
In my experience middle school is the best time to capture these kids. By then they know that they like to build things and work with their hands. My program has two components – “Frame Your Future” for 9-11 grade students and “Build Your Future” for high school seniors. The program for those in grades 9-11 is more of a career awareness program. Students learn about all the trades and they hear from a professional trades person. They also get math for the trades and learn how to apply the math to a basic construction project. Students then get work readiness skills. This progam has become a pipeline for our “Build Your Future” program for high school seniors. This is a 130 hour program where kids learn basic math, blue print reading, basic constructon, readining comprehension and work readiness. They also get the OSHA 10 for construction. These students hear from several of the differnet trades and go on field trips to union training centers. We work with over 60 school districts in NE PA. When we started 4 years ago it was difficult to get into the schools with this kind of program. Most of the schools were pushing college and as we know college is not for everyone. It took awhile but now our school districts are calling us wanting to know when we are having our next program.
- Eve Centrelli
This comment was originally posted on Linked in response to the posting of this blog. It has been reposted on the PC Construction website in its entirety.
Eve. Are you using the CORE Curriculum from the National Center for Construction Education and Research? Do your feel that your program could be pushed down starting at the 7th and 8th grade levels? If not do you have any ideas on what could be done in those grades?
- Scotty Gecks
This comment was originally posted on Linked in response to the posting of this blog. It has been reposted on the PC Construction website in its entirety.
Here in Oklahoma we utilize the vo-tech system to provide programs to high schoolers using the NCCER Core. I have generated some interest among Local Workforce Investment Boards to introduce a construction curriculum in middle school utilizing the WIA Youth Program as a source for funding. I am a NCCER Master Trainer and Craft Trainer but have not seen nor thought about the Careers in Construction book. I will have my rep send me one. I see that we are connected and will be contacting you in hopes that we may continue this discussion. This has been good.
- Scotty Gecks
This comment was originally posted on Linked in response to the posting of this blog. It has been reposted on the PC Construction website in its entirety.
I think the key that Scotty, Eve,k and Mike are getting to is that timing in human and career development are everything. When I was the director of workforce development and school-to-work at the NCCER back in the 1990s, I conducted research with the U of F Rinker School that looked specifically at what age young people are career aware, verses career exploring, verses carrer commitment, verses career change. This is why folks like DA Downey, Hess, Catapillar, NAWIC, CAGC, AGC, and many others took a great step in creating the National Careers in Construction Teleconference back in 1997.
“Fun activities” like showing up and building a play ground or play house is great from pre-school to elementary school. It shows professionals buidling things with cool tools and permits Career Awareness. Career Exploration is best at the middle school to 9th grade where kids are trying to “create personal identity” in general but also specific to “what will I be when I grow up. Career Commitment is a crucial time for high school kids and the first two years post-secondary. Job Shadowing becomes Internships, better, sustainable partnerships with principals, counselors, parents occurs. Career Change is a re-assessment of “what have i done, where have I been and what else do I want to do” (think late 20 to 30 year olds, then again at 50). This is where folks determine if they want to become journey, become a supervisor, senior leader, instructor, or if they want to change careers.
There are a lot of firms using the downturn as a reason not to reach out to middle school and high school students and teachers. WRONG MOVE. They are actually breaking the workforce chain and the re-start will be much more expensive and time consuming.
So, whatever Mike, Jerry, Eve, Scotty et al do, hats off to them for doing something.
- Dr. Richard Ray, RODP
This comment was originally posted on Linked in response to the posting of this blog. It has been reposted on the PC Construction website in its entirety.
Even though I believe that any presentation and format that enlightens young people to possible career opportunities, parental involvment is critical to gaining a foothold at the junior high level. The most success I have experienced is conducting presentations at school counselor seminars and parent/teacher meetings.If family oriented activities, site visits or video presentations with real people input is included the impression and information is retained more efficiently and makes for a more effective event. The “Big Dig” is an example where a local equipment company provides operators and equipment for youngsters(and a few parents) to operate dozers, backhoes and forklifts to experience a real-life environment. The industry really needs the positive media exposure and community involvment that these events provide.
- Michael Botkins
This comment was originally posted on Linked in response to the posting of this blog. It has been reposted on the PC Construction website in its entirety.
Just to let everyone know, I am putting together a face to face meeting with Ayuda Consulting, Crossland Construction and myself to further discuss what I have learned here and to gain direction and insight from others who are moving in the same direction. Crossland Consrtruction is a training driven company when it comes to talent management and has been working for years in programs targeting youth to provide alternative paths to success and an incubator for skilled trades. It is good to hear from Dr. Ray and my old friend Jerry, whom I know and respect. And thank you Eve for helping me begin to formulate my ideas. I hope to continue this discussion and I am sure there are more that will join as we progress.
- Scotty Gecks
This comment was originally posted on Linked in response to the posting of this blog. It has been reposted on the PC Construction website in its entirety.