NOCTI PILOT TEST FOR AVC STUDENTS

Vo c at i o n a l U p dat e

NOCTI is a leading provider of high-quality technical competency assessment products and services for secondary and post-secondary educational institutions in the United States and around the world. Their focus is on job and task analysis, standards development, assessment development and delivery, scoring and analysis services, and student recognition. Their assessments focus on job ready skills, pathway assessments, and performance assessments.

Collinsville ARea Vocational Center

Job ready skills tests focus on specific content related to a chosen profession within career and technical areas. Testing in this area includes multiple choice questions focused on the knowledge and content necessary for entry into a specific occupational area. Pathway assessments measure the technical skills within a pathway or cluster as well as soft skills and academic skills contextualized to the occupation. Finally, performance assessments allow students to demonstrate their acquired skills by completing actual jobs using the tools, materials, machines, and equipment characteristic of the occupation. Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) and Collinsville High School (CHS) have agreed to participate in pilot testing for the new NOCTI exams that relate to our curriculum. This opportunity will provide our students with not only the chance to obtain NOCTI certification in a variety of areas, but also to gain exposure to the types of questions they might face on other certification and employment exams. In addition, the results of these exams will help our faculty ensure the effectiveness and alignment of our curriculum to current industry standards. On February 23rd and 24th approximately 160 students will be tested in 11 different areas. CHS Assistant Principal, Tricia Blackard, says, It is our hope that this experience will be beneficial to both our students and faculty. In career and technical education it is essential to continually update curriculum and to be aware of current technologies in business and industry. We hope this opportunity will validate the concepts and skills we are teaching our students every day!

CAVC Food service caters faculty meal

CAVC Food Service students once again volunteered to help the faculty and staff of CHS and CAVC. This year the administrative staff sponsored a luncheon for faculty and staff prior to the super bowl. CAVC students helped by preparing hot dogs and chili for our dedicated staff. This provided an opportunity for students to not only cater a meal for more than 100 adults but also apply the skills they learn in class to maintain food quality and serve meals in a real setting. Principal Eric Flohr, says We truly appreciate everything those students do to make this event a success. This is just one more example of how we are the High School of Champions. We could not do this without their help!

New PLTW engineering class joins forces with kilLark electric

Next year CAVC/CHS will be offering a new pathway to support students interested in engineering. Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is the renown curriculum model designed to promote and support engineering within middle and high schools around the country. Two major areas of focus are community involvement and connecting with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals. We are pleased to announce Killark Electric has agreed to serve as a resource for our students and teachers. This collaborative agreement will provide real-life applications of content for our students. Killark is a leading manufacturer of electrical construction products for standard, harsh, and hazardous environments. Their products are designed to go where our customers need them to be, from the searing heat of Saudi Arabia to the freezing conditions of the Yukon. Safety and reliability have been the cornerstone of their business for almost a century.

Student helps local fire department

This month Hollywood Heights Volunteer Fire Department received an unexpected accessory. Jacob Berry, a student in CAVCs machining class saw a need and luckily had the skills to address it. As a member of the Hollywood Heights VFD, Jacob knew the challenges of driving a fire truck through narrow streets. Because the front of the truck sticks out, it is difficult to see exactly where the bumper is. This lack of vision makes it difficult to maneuver the truck in an emergency situation. He approached his machining teacher Justin Cann and asked if he could design something to help a driver be better able to maneuver the vehicle. The design he came up with is a long rod of stainless steel that attaches to the bumper of the fire truck. This rod includes a colored marker on top so the driver can see exactly how far the vehicle sticks out. Mr. Cann states, Jacob is a hard worker who saw a need and had the skills to fix it. He spent a lot of time on the design before moving to the manufacturing process. He put a lot of thought into it and the result works great!

CONSUMER EDUCATION CLASS FIRST TO COMPLETE FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM

Collinsville High School teacher, Vicki Fuhrhop, partnered with TheBANK of Edwardsville and EverFi Inc. to provide an awesome opportunity to her students. The Consumer Education class was the first group in the state to complete a new course on personal finance and economics. Forty-three students were honored for their accomplishments at a ceremony on February 8, in the CHS auditorium. Illinois Senator, Kyle McCarter, along with Linda Koch, CEO and President of the Illinois Bankers Association, Dr. Robert Diaber, Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools and Mayor John Miller, of the City of Collinsville were among the special guests.