Teaching in CTE programs provides innovative ways to connect with students and helps them to obtain valuable skills for the workplace while still in school. Since employability skills are a tantamount element in the whole CTE concept, activities such as work-based learning, simulated workplaces and field trips/visits to businesses and organizations help to "connect the dots" for students. One element noted in the "Simulated Workplace" module captured the notion I've heard for years, even when I was in school: "How often do teachers hear, 'Why do I need to know this?'" CTE makes this question ever the more relevant to the real world, and the CTE teaching trends help make this effort an ever more tangible reality.
Our culinary program allows our students to provide food services in the form of buffets manned by the students, or for special functions the public can attend so they can get that real world experience. In our drone program, we are teaching our students the techniques on how to fly drones, create content, and apply what they've learned in the classroom as far as FAA rules and regulations, through projects such as short films during class hours. This method we use also serves as a relevant activity for the students to understand all of the rules and information necessary to pass the FAA Unmanned Aircraft General Remote Pilot exam, so they can obtain their Remote Pilot Certificate required to fly drones commercially.
