Career Exploration
All newly enrolled students at Lower Pioneer Valley Career and Technical Education Center participate in the Career Exploratory Program.
The LPVEC Technical Career Exploratory (TCE) is an introductory program designed to introduce students to the career training options available at the Career and Technical Education Center (Career TEC).
The first three weeks of the course are an introduction to Career TEC. Students are familiarized with the rules and expectations of Career TEC and are given general shop safety information. They participate in one-day shop presentations, which provide basic information for each shop including safety, skills necessary for success, college and career opportunities.
The course then allows students to participate in shop exploration. The students select five shops from the eleven available, after having first been introduced to the shops as part of a one-day informational visit. One of their shop selections will be a non-traditional career rotation. Selection is based on personal interest as well as the results from research gathered from career interest inventories using the MASSCIS computer program. Students also draw from knowledge gained during the one-day shop presentations. Upon completion of these five shop explorations, during which students become part of the existing program for approximately three weeks, a final shop selection is made to complete the school year. Final placement is determined by an overall review of performance in all shop explorations. Grades from each exploration are reviewed and priority for shop placement is given based upon specific shop performance as well as overall performance. Students must give their best effort in all five shops explored in order to have the best chance to be placed in the final shop of their choosing.
*Placement in a student’s first choice program is not guaranteed.
Instructional Philosophy
Instruction is delivered in a variety of formats in an effort to encompass the varied learning styles of individuals. Course matter is delivered daily in a series of short lectures supported by written notes and documentation. Students are then given time to apply the instructional topic in a hands-on manner when appropriate. Classroom standards of expectations are geared toward promoting the development of workplace ethics. The integration of math and language arts skills is evident as students attain new skills from class and homework assignments.
Course Objectives
Students will learn how to:
- Act/work independently
- Develop workplace ethics regarding attendance and preparedness
- Interact safely in a shop environment
- Read,understand and communicate in the language for the various shop environments
- Use resources for problem solving
- Work as part of a team
- Develop personal creativity
- Incorporate the use of current technology
- Transfer personal abilities and likes into job related skills