Donald Robinson II

In career development, all of the stages are important in their respective significance.  However, the preparation and commitment stages are the most crucial of them.  These stages are like the final leg of a race.  The whole purpose is to get to the finish line, and one cannot finish the race without making it through that final stretch, let alone running the entire distance and seeing that through.  

Preparing for interviews, writing resumés, building networks and following up after the interview are all the steps for building interpersonal communication and relationships in the working world.  Whether a student is pursuing… >>>

The Assessment and Investigation stages are critically important for students in their understanding of career paths, and their learning in terms of the skills they are gaining and the academics being taught in the classroom.  A major component to anyone's successful career development is self-awareness, which combined with gaining experience can tremendously build one's confidence by exponential numbers.  In our school, we are teaching and coaching our students through the material taught in class, and activities such as internships and our efforts in work-based learning.  As the students get more experience, their growth in confidence can be tangibly seen, and… >>>

Global/Multicultural Fluency is a very important part of workplace culture.  As the world has become global, through the Internet/World Wide Web, we have become more sophisticated in reaching others.  Now, through means like social media, networking platforms and email, we can reach anyone in the world.  And places like America have become more multicultural than ever before.  But for other reasons, diversity leads to prosperity.  Since we live in a world where people come from various backgrounds and situations, sensitivity to someone's experiences can take a worker, or team leader, or manager, a long way in terms of interpersonal relationships… >>>

Career management is a great way to get students to think about, and plan for, the type of work and careers they want to pursue from the start of their adulthood.  This module in CTE illustrates a complete and comprehensive strategy development method for students to be focused in the careers they prepare for.  Through SMART goals, career interviews, career action plans and the six stages of modern career development, a student can fully engage in his/her own future, thus providing a strong springboard in life early on.

Professionalism can be developed effectively in the classroom, and CTE is the perfect environment to make this effort relevant.  Just as we adults understand we need to be to work on time, be diligent in our efforts, and provide an exemplary effort in our duties, students can learn and build on these workplace habits in school.  Getting to class on time, doing the work both in class and for homework, actively participating to develop communication and decision-making skills, all are components of building habits that can be lifelong assets for a student's working life. 

Habits formed now will lead to… >>>

Leadership is a very important skill for students to learn, as they are overall preparing for the real world and real workplaces to be a part of very soon.  A vital component of what makes good leadership is the fostering of decision-making.  It is discussed in this module, but I want to bring more to light that an instructor has the ability to nurture students in making decisions, thus providing them the springboard for making good decisions as leaders. 

In my opinion, working together in class, including participation in class discussions, answering questions and participating in group activities, are small… >>>

Integrating Information Technology Applications in the classroom helps students understand the world around them, the same world they will enter after high school graduation.  As technological advances increase seemingly more rapidly, and as classrooms have become more resemblant of 21st-Century workplaces, IT can also take on some of the modules learned here, such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, problem solving and technical experience.  One unique thought is that IT application can also help foster collaboration between students and instructors. 

Through my own experience in teaching technology such as web development, app prototype development and basics of A.I., I learned that… >>>

Teamwork and collaboration are essential elements in CTE, along with the workplace.  In school, students learn social rules and norms, and some of those activities can be transformed to real-world relationships, interpersonal skill development and conduct in both the workplace and society.  Learning how to work in teams is just as important as learning how to master verbal and written communication that was covered in the previous module.  We all have to learn how to work with and be among people, so activities centered on strengthening teamwork along with collaboration can help students be more productive, and marketable in their… >>>

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential tools for students in both their studies and their experiences.  These tools are skills that will help them in the classroom, the workplace, and in their personal lives.  Most of this is about management:  life management, time management, study management.  

We use several tools for engagement, with parameters built in that allow for critical thinking, and room to solve problems constructively.

Student agency is a perfect vehicle in CTE for students' hands-on learning.  The best way for students to learn is to have them actively participate in projects that relate to what they are learning.  The more relevance the students see in it for themselves, the more likely they will be active in their hands-on learning.  Our students are learning through both operating drones and understanding the rules and regulations from the FAA to pass the Unmanned Aircraft General Remote Pilot exam.  Our projects allow them to learn though the process of establishing their own initiative and enthusiasm, keeping them focused… >>>