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Developing Project-Based Independent Research and Internship Courses for English and History

Erin FenderCollege & Career Academy Support Network (CCASN)

University of California Berkeley

Kate TrimlettGreen Academy

Berkeley High School

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Poll: Where are You From?

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/uJpnGMa9yRi1Ho3

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Kate Trimlett• High School Teacher (9 years)

o Scienceo CTE classes

• Academy Co-Lead

• Internship Coordinator

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Erin Fender• Project Manager at CCASN

• Former Assistant Principal and Small Learning Community Project Director

• Former High School Science Teacher

• Former Lead Teacher for Environmental Science Academy

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Poll: What is your Role?

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/H9EwDauzrI2mxea

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CCASN• Based at UC Berkeley and UC Irvine, Graduate School of

Education

• Focus on development, implementation and improvement of College & Career Academies

• Practice-based research - Conduct research to document and improve practice, and advise policy makers at all levels

• Research-based practice - Provide coaching, professional development and technical assistance for secondary schools to improve students’ preparation for college and careers

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CCASN website• Implementation guides, research reports, presentations

• Searchable directories of academies - CPA and National

• Toolbox of downloadable materials

• Videos of California Partnership Academies (CPAs) in Action

• Searchable curriculum database with resources compiled specifically for college & career academies

• Academy News Clips – online newsletter

http://casn.berkeley.edu

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Berkeley High School

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Berkeley High School

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Berkeley High School3,300 Students

32% White23% Black or African American19% Hispanic or Latino9% Asian9% Two or more races1.5% Either American Indian or Alaska Native, Filipino, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander6.5% Refuse to state

29% Socioeconomically Disadvantaged12% English Language Learners10% Students with Disabilities

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Small Learning CommunitiesBIHS Academic

ChoiceAHA Green

AcademyCAS AMPS

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Green Academy

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Green Academy2 CTE Pathways:• Sustainability, Ecology & Environmental Design (SEED)

• Human Energy & Appropriate Technology (HEAT)o 480 studentso 240/ pathwayo 60/ grade level

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Green AcademySEED CTE Courses

10th - Introduction to Enviro. Science

11th - AP Enviro. Science ROP

12th - BEST

Heat CTE Courses:10th - Introduction to Energy

11th - Energy of Physics

12th - BEST

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CTE Career Prep All Grades: Green Career Week

Monday - Thursday: Green Career Speakers

Friday: Green Career Fair

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CTE Career Prep 10th Grade• Field Trips to Green Businesses

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CTE Career Prep 11th grade• Resumes• Green 360• Internship Presentations

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CTE Career Prep 12th Grade• Green 360 Catalyst1. Career Exploration

2. Environmental Sustainability Challenges & Changemaker Roles

3. Networking

4. Informational Interviewing

5. Green 360 Journey – Final Project

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History of BEST• BEST stands for Berkeley Experiential Senior

Transition Program

• Originally approved as a year-long "college-prep" course in 1999 for one-semester of English and one-semester of social science

• Modeled after the WISE program in Westchester, NY; Woodlands HS, NY; Cambridge Rindge and Latin, MA.

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BEST• Each Academy has variations

• Goals are to provide:o student-driven internship experience o project-based learning o independent research

that is well-supported by a teacher and mentor to prepare students' to become independent young adults

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In California the UC/CSU "a-g" requirements rule the land• Courses from CA high schools must be certified by

UC in order to be deemed “college-prep”

• Subject area course criteria established by UC faculty

• Course are evaluated by "analysts" at the UC

• As long as there are no major changes the course remains "UC approved" from year-to-year

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How are courses deemed "college-prep" in your state/district?

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Internships1. Students research internships

2. Cold Call to ask for internship

3. Wednesdays after lunch (Oct- May)

4. Blocks

5. Site Visits (fellow academy teacher stays at school site for those students on-campus)

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Internships

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Research Projects• UC Berkeley Mentors

With a focus on use of technology• Power Point (1st semester)

• iMovie (2nd semester)

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Nutrition- if there is time

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Integrating English ConceptsA few examples...• Use of varied texts - following

recommendations of Common Core

• Creation of a personal reading list and a written defense of this list

• Reflective/Metacognitive Journal

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Integrating English Concepts (cont'd)

A few more examples...• Use of evidence in projects/research

• Speaking/Presentation skills

• Articles describing their projects/internship written for newspaper/blogs

• What are YOUR ideas?

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Integrating History A few examples...• Discussions and (Socratic) Seminars about

evolution of work in the US including Protestant ethic, slavery, industrial revolution, importation/exportation of work(ers), sexual harassment, discrimination, child labor, telecommuting...

• Students read and respond to oral histories which focus on work in the US

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Integrating History (continued)

A few more examples...• Students write about their actual work

experience during their internship and provide comparisons/contrasts to other eras and countries

• What are YOUR ideas?

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Lessons Learned• Student motivation to do well in "regular"

English and social studies classes may diminish b/c they think they can use the BEST course grade instead

• Internships on campus are not a good idea• Regular check on interns is essential• Make sure to have back up internship

options for students that have a tough time on their own

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Small Group DiscussionsTable Talk• What could this type of course look like on

your campus?• How could it be improved?• What are some challenges?

Share 1 highlight with the whole group

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Support to implement a course like BEST…NAF Resources

o Gold Standard for Internshipso Internship Toolkits for students, teachers and hostso Exploring College & Career Options (ECCO) (play

video if time)

CCASNo Internship Guideo Consultation/Coaching from Practitioners

Visit/Contact other schools who are implementing similar courses

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Questions