There were lots of great presentations at the MEATA 2012 Fall Drive-in Conference. If you missed the event or want copies of the Powerpoints and other documents from the event, you've come to the right place!
The event opened with a showing of the Edge Factor's "Metal & Flesh" film preview video that focuses on the incredible story of an innovative engineer/manufacturer who has "redefined what is possible" in the realm of prosthetics. (Watch for the film's release in 2013!). Here's a link to the Edge Factor website page where you can see the video for yourself: http://edgefactor.com/edgefactorshow/episode3
Next up was Russ Davis, State Director for the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship, who provided a National Perspective on the State of Apprenticeships. Download his presentation.
Brad Erickson from the Capital Area Career Center provided an excellent overview of the processes, challenges and opportunities faced by Career/Tech Centers around the state related to integration of high school academic credits into CTE courses. Download his presentation.
John Hartwell, Apprentice Coordinator and Field Rep with IUOE Local 324 provided an overview of current legislation being proposed in Lansing designed to impact the High School Core Requirements. These include:
Senate Bill 1013 and House Bill 5645
Education; curricula; opt-out provision for foreign language and algebra II requirements for high school diploma; provide for pupils meeting certain alternative requirements. Amends sec. 1278a of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1278a).
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2012-SB-1013
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2012-HB-5645
Senate Bill 0997 and House Bill 5451
Education; graduation requirements; Michigan merit curriculum; revise. Amends secs. 1278a & 1278b of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1278a & 380.1278b). Includes credits for CTE "technical math" and "work-based learning" options.
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2012-SB-0997
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2012-HB-5451
House Bill 5456
Education; graduation requirements; completion of certain vocational technical or career and technical education in lieu of certain state high school diploma requirements; allow. Amends secs. 1278a & 1278b of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1278a & 380.1278b).
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2012-HB-5456
NOTE: You can follow these and other bills via the Michigan Legislative website, a free service of the Michigan Legislative Council, the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. The site allows you to search for bills from current and prior sessions and Public Acts (bills passed into law). The site can also automatically e-mail you legislative updates based on keywords, sponsoring legislators or categories (such as Education, graduation requirements and Education, career and technical).
Last but not least, Patty Adolfs from the Oakland County ISD could not attend the event but put together a great AdobeConnect presentation with lots of tips on how manufacturers (and really any industry representatives) can work successfully with K-12 educators and adminstrators. View her presentation. (Adobe Flash Player 10.1 or higher required.)
MEATA News
