What the Construction Center of Excellence Can Do For Education...

The Construction Center of Excellence is one of 10 Centers of Excellence sponsored by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.  We currently reach over 4,000 stakeholders in Washington state, and over 370 partners in 45 states.

The CCE works with K-12 educators, colleges, apprenticeships and private training providers who are training job seekers and incumbent workers to gain the competitive skills needed in the 21st Century construction workplace.
 
  • Creation and distribution of the 12-minute video "Green Building: Jobs of the Future" to provide educators with a dynamic teaching tool to introduce students to the construction industry and to the real meaning of "green" and how it will shape their future career opportunities in the industry
  • The Construction Math Toolbox, introducing construction-based contextual learning in secondary math courses via a series of supplemental lesson plans, teaching resources, and "real world" exercises that help students see the connection between math and the building process.
  • Seminars, workshops, conferences and outreach events for teachers, counselors and school administrators such as convening and supporting Pathways to Apprenticeship events around Washington State to introduce K-12 to the apprenticeship training model.
  • Offer green building workshops, lectures, and training throughout the state to introduce educators to sustainability concepts that can be integrated into middle school, high school, and construction-related curricula and to educate incumbent workers on the "greening" of today's construction industry.
  • Program development and expansion, and articulation agreement development
  • .
  • Advisement and consultation for construction-related programs across the state.
Taking Measure
  Educators

NEW Student Achievement Initiative Page on State Board's website

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has a webpage listing several unique initiatives whose common interest is providing services and information aimed at improving student success.

Generation Next:
Feedback from Students on Construction Career Guidance


The Construction Center of Excellence and New Market Skills Center conducted research with students to obtain ideas to improve career guidance.  Their feedback is summarized in this report, and can be useful to anyone who is interested in making their K12 construction career activities more effective.


Click here to see our affiliate’s website: http://www.nmvsc.com/

In October 2006, the CCE joined forces with New Market Vocational Skills Center as they formed a K12 Center of Excellence for their Construction Technologies program/Running Start for the Trade Demonstration Project.   They are developing and expanding articulations with apprenticeships for direct entry options.
 
Home Training Tools
Home Science Tools is a resource for parents, teachers, and kids who want a better experience with hands-on science. Frank and Debbie Schaner started the company in 1994, when they realized how difficult it was to find the right supplies for doing science at home with their four children. Since then, they've been committed to making science both fun and accessible for families and classrooms. Check out their Power House Green Essentials Kit,, explore alternative energy sources and sustainable living through hands-on experiments using real materials!