Episode 69
CTE 2.0: Scaling
Hands-On Skills for a Global EdTech Market
Brief description of the episode
What does it take to teach hands-on career skills in a fully virtual high school? In this episode, educator Adam Reid shares what it’s really like to run Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs online, from engaging students across Alaska to making subjects like forensic science and culinary arts work in remote formats. He talks about student motivation, access gaps, AI use, and how online learning can open up real career paths. Whether you’re in policy, product, or the classroom, this episode gives a grounded look into the future of CTE.
Key Takeaways:
- Look at local workforce needs. CTE thrives when aligned with in-demand fields like health sciences, education, tourism, law enforcement, and natural resources.
- Consider courses that adapt well to virtual formats, subjects like AI, digital design, and forensic science work effectively in online environments.
- Focus on areas that spark curiosity. Students often discover unexpected interests through hands-on or scenario-based online activities.
- Prioritize exposure over box-checking. Students who connect with real-world applications are more likely to stay engaged and pursue further learning.
- Build courses that help students “see themselves” in future roles, not just pass a class.
- Design with cultural and linguistic diversity in mind, some districts, like Anchorage, have students speaking over 100 languages
- Recognize that students come with a wide range of life situations, from full-time jobs to families who travel seasonally
- Use flexible formats to meet students both physically and academically.
- Ensure course options support both exploration and necessity, whether students are seeking enrichment or balancing financial responsibilities.
- Leverage online learning to connect a geographically and economically diverse student base with consistent, high-quality opportunities.
- Early feedback helps identify challenges such as test anxiety and pacing before it’s too late to adjust.
- Making personal connections through Zoom or check-ins builds trust and encourages students to speak up.
- Adjustments like offering more time or retake options based on student input can make a big difference in learner success.
- Flexibility in online settings helps address needs that aren’t visible in person, such as social anxiety or hidden struggles.
- Some students enroll for credit but discover unexpected interest or talent. So, feedback helps educators lean into those moments of discovery.
- Start with the basics of digital literacy. Teach students how to identify what’s real, reliable, and ethically sound
- Emphasize responsible use by helping students understand the difference between using AI to improve their work versus letting it replace their thinking.
- Use real examples like reviewing a student’s process to show when AI is a helpful tool rather than a shortcut.
- Incorporate ethics and make discussions about proper usage a core part of the course.
- Keep the curriculum flexible as AI tools and capabilities evolve rapidly, so the course must be adaptable over time.
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