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How Career Connections CPUs Work

• Introduction to the Applied Technologies CPU Format
• Overview
• Assessment
• Instructor Aids

Introduction

Every Career Connection CPU (Career Pathway Unit) comes complete with all of the necessary equipment and materials.  Each CPU also comes with enough consumable materials for at least 24 students.

Most CPUs are available in two formats:

• Orientation Series (10-activity)
• Application Series (15-activity)

Orientation Series
This series is designed for the middle school level and is 10 activities long, which equals approximately 10 hours worth of work.  Students are introduced to a brief history of the subject area, key terminology, and industry standard materials and equipment.  Once introduced, students will be given the opportunity to complete a hands-on project specific to the technology they are studying.  Students will learn to manage their time and resources as they work together to complete the CPU.

Application Series
This series is designed with high school students in mind.  These students will obtain higher level skills as they delve into the subject area more thoroughly than the Orientation level student.  Because these students are more career-minded, our Application CPUs encourage research into relevant employment opportunities.  While working through the CPUs, students are often faced with real-world scenarios that prompt them to apply the new skills they have learned.  This exposure is valuable in the transfer of knowledge to a variety of work settings and problems.

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Overview

Most of the CPUs are delivered via a Student Guide notebook and some are delivered exclusively via Media Cruiser, Applied Technologies' computer-based delivery system.  Either way, Media Cruiser is a large part of the delivery of the curriculum, and the layout and format is consistent from CPU to CPU.

For example, every activity begins with an inventory of the CPU materials, and ends with a re-inventory, ensuring both student and instructor that all materials are in the CPU area and in working condition.  At the end of each activity, students are to complete a "critical thinking" step where they respond to a scenario or question.  This consistency keeps students from having to learn different formats as they rotate from CPU to CPU.  This means less time is spent navigating the system and more time is spent learning the material.

Whether the CPU has a Student Guide or not, students use Media Cruiser to launch software, watch videos, take tests, and more.

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Assessment

Each CPU starts with a Pre-test and ends with a Post-test, both of which are taken on the computer.  These tests help access how much material the student learned by the end of the CPU.

As the students work through the activities, they will define 10-20 vocabulary words and complete numerous computer-based quizzes.  These quizzes offer a variety of question styles including multiple choice, multiple-multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, hot spot, and true and false.  Each question must be answered correctly before the student can continue through the quiz.  Help screens are displayed when a student answers a question incorrectly.

CPUs also make use of "Checkpoints," which are computer-based "tests" the instructor takes to verify that students are properly completing hands-on activities.

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Instructor Aids

Each CPU comes with an Instructor's Overview (IO).  The IO contains answer keys and source locators to the Pre- and Post-test, quizzes, and vocabulary words; a Notes to the Instructor section that outlines important information the instructor needs to know and implement in order for the CPU to run smoothly; and each activity's objectives.  The IO also contains any worksheets that may need to be passed out.

Customization is one of the key features of Applied Technologies' products.  For example, suppose you found a new piece of software you wanted to add to the Aviation CPU.  Simply open Media Editor (Media Cruiser's "behind the scenes" counterpart) and tell it where to find that new program's executable file.

But wouldn't modifying Media Cruiser make a change in the curriculum necessary too?  Yes!  And that's easy to do as well because each Career Connection Media Cruiser CPU CD contains the Adobe PageMaker files for that particular CPU's Student Guide and Instructor's Overview.   Using PageMaker, the instructor can modify any part of the Student Guide or IO to fit the needs of the lab. 

Each Career Connection Media Cruiser CPU CD also contains the Student Guide and Instructor's Overview in Adobe Reader's .pdf format.   Using Adobe Reader (located on the Media Cruiser Program CD), an instructor can open any Student Guide or IO and reprint pages that might have been lost or damaged.   The .pdf file can also be used by the students as an "electronic book."

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