BETR Lesson Plans

Submitted by

A. Yamashita

Lesson Plan with Real World Connections

Final Resume

Feasibility Study

Descriptive Owner’s Manual

Proposal Task

Field Study

Literature Search

and Rescue

Declaration of

Specialization

Technical Writing

IntegWareIntegWare

Value Plastics

Value Plastics

Lightning Hybrids

Lightning Hybrids

Larimer Center

for Mental Health

Larimer Center

for Mental Health

CSU Engines

& Conversion Laboratory

CSU Engines

& Conversion Laboratory

Loveland Water

and Power

Loveland Water

and Power

Medical Center of

the Rockies

Medical Center of

the Rockies

Real World

Real World

Declaration of Specialization

Statement of Connection "Make sure that you are doing something that you love. . .even if a person is proficient at something you can tell if their heart isn't in it” (Steve Eberle, Medical Center of the Rockies).

Purpose of Lesson This project allows students to explore whether or not what they plan to study is something they can put their heart into.

What the students will learn what they will be able to do upon completion

Students will learn about agents that will aide in their pursuit of the chosen career field.

What students already know before beginning the lesson

Students may be aware of an interesting career field, they may also have already completed course work in preparation for work in that career field.

At least one way to assist the students in learning

Informative resource links and a review of web-based search engine use will be provided.

At least one way to evaluate the learning outcomes

See rubric

Medical Center of the Rockies

Medical Center of the Rockies

Declaration of Specialization

Academic behavioral learning objective

See objectives

Review any prerequisite knowledge that will lead easily into the new curriculum.

Students will need to know how to access MS Word and the Internet

Exact projects, or activities that will be used

See task outline for project details

Examples See sample

The NEW curriculum that the students exit the lesson knowing

Students will have learned information to help them pursue their chosen career, practiced sourcing information from the Internet, practiced documenting that information in Modern Language Association format, and will have practiced presenting information in a standard business memo format.

Medical Center of the Rockies

Medical Center of the Rockies

Literature Search and

Rescue

Statement of Connection

“Communicating utility costs to the public using executive summaries requires technical writing skills” Tracy Hewson, Commercial Accounts Representative, Loveland Water and Power

Purpose An executive summary is a form of an abstract. Abstracts are a crucial communication medium. The purpose of this project is to get students critically reading and writing abstracts while exposing them to more information pertinent to their own career area of interest.

What the students will learn what they will be able to do upon completion

See objectives

What students already know before beginning the lesson

Students may be aware of an interesting career field, they will know about some periodicals that regularly publish information pertinent to area of interest. Student will have some basic ideas about conducting searches for information in an online database.

At least one way to assist the students in learning

Informative resource links will be provided throughout the task.

At least one way to evaluate the learning outcomes

See rubric

Loveland Water and PowerLoveland Water and Power

Literature Search and

Rescue

Academic behavioral learning objective

There are two audiences that any type of specialist will deal with. In no particular order the first audience is made up of their colleagues, the second audience is made up their clients. A fluent communicator will be proficient in choosing the appropriate writing format and voice to communicate with clients as well as colleagues. This project will ask you to create two different documents one to address each audience.

Review any prerequisite knowledge that will lead easily into the new curriculum.

Collecting information from online databases is a skill that students should have been exposed to. Students will also have been written summaries. Students should also be aware of the general format of a newsletter.

Exact projects, or activities that will be used

See task outline for project details

Examples See samples: summary response, literature search, newsletter

The NEW curriculum that the students exit the lesson knowing

Students will have learned information to help them pursue their chosen career, practiced researching using online databases, practiced verifying information from the Internet, and will have practiced presenting information using summary responses, abstracts, and newsletters.

Loveland Water and PowerLoveland Water and Power

Field Study

Statement of Connection

In the Colorado State University's Engines & Conversion Laboratory, "the mission of the EECL is to create innovative energy solutions and entrepreneurial models that benefit the human condition and achieve global impact. Some of the projects undertaken have significantly improved fuel efficiency and tailpipe emissions from two-stroke engines”, Roshan Joseph

Purpose To create solutions field research must be conducted. The purpose of the Field Study is to simulate a research project from hypothesis to recommendations.

What the students will learn what they will be able to do upon completion

See objectives

What students already know before beginning the lesson

Students have general knowledge of a problem solution paper as a frame of reference. Most have taken part in a survey. Most have experience with MS PowerPoint.

At least one way to assist the students in learning

Resource links and various templates, Viewlet ©, and student aide will be made available to lead students through parts of the task that are unfamiliar to them

At least one way to evaluate the learning outcomes

See rubric

Colorado State University's Engines & Conversion Laboratory

Colorado State University's Engines & Conversion Laboratory

Field Study

Academic behavioral learning objective

Field Research in some form is present in all job sectors. This project allows students to generate a hypothesis and questions to test that hypothesis with traditional write-up format; to collect data and analyze that data using MS Excel pivot table and chart; to communicate both visually and orally original conclusions and recommendations to an audience of your peers using MS PowerPoint

Review any prerequisite knowledge that will lead easily into the new curriculum.

Students will need to understand the concept of making an educated guess and what factors can be studied to test that guess. Students should understand how presenting information in tabular form makes that information easier to digest.

Exact projects, or activities that will be used

See task outline for project details

Examples See student sample of write-up

The NEW curriculum that the students exit the lesson knowing

Student will leave this task with more practice searching for information pertinent to their area of specialization, more practice documenting that information, practice using MS Excel to analyze data, and practice orally presenting their information to their peers.

Colorado State University's Engines & Conversion Laboratory

Colorado State University's Engines & Conversion Laboratory

Proposal Task

Statement of Connection

"You could make a career of finding funding for health services”, Emily Dawson-Peterson, Larimer Center for Mental Health.

Purpose In an ever increasingly competitive economy at some point it is very likely that students will find themselves in need of funding. Requests for Proposals or Information for Bids are a valid and underexposed source of income to students. In this project students learn about RFP / IFB, where to find them, how to respond to them and ultimately when, and how they might create an RFP themselves.

What the students will learn what they will be able to do upon completion

See objectives

What students already know before beginning the lesson

Students have heard of scholarships which are a form of a request for proposal from that frame of references I can build an understanding of what an RFP is.

At least one way to assist the students in learning

Informative resource links will be provided.

At least one way to evaluate the learning outcomes

See rubric

Larimer Center for Mental Health

Larimer Center for Mental Health

Proposal Task

Academic behavioral learning objective

Students are going to search for a pertinent RFP or IFB for their area of specialization; to build a proposal; and to create an RFP for the recommendations that were developed as a result of our own Field Study.

Review any prerequisite knowledge that will lead easily into the new curriculum.

Students will need to be able to conduct an internet search.

Exact projects, or activities that will be used

See task outline for project details

Examples See student sample

The NEW curriculum that the students exit the lesson knowing

Students will be aware of a possible income stream and the way to channel it through proper writing techniques.

Larimer Center for Mental Health

Larimer Center for Mental Health

Descriptive Owner's Manual

Statement of Connection Lightning Hybrids will concentrate on the design of retrofit kits and then certify fleet operators to install and maintain the product, Samuel JohnsonLightning Hybrids

Purpose Communicating the proper way to use products and services to your customers is essential. The purpose of this project is to introduce students to the essential parts of this document and give students an additional opportunity to learn about a different aspect of their career area of interest.

What the students will learn what they will be able to do upon completion

See objectives

What students already know before beginning the lesson

Students will have a working knowledge of the item they chose to focus on for the task.

At least one way to assist the students in learning

Informative resource links will be provided and a freeware application Lego Block CAD will be provided to create the visualizations for the owner's manual portion of this project.

At least one way to evaluate the learning outcomes

See rubric

Lightning HybridsLightning Hybrids

Descriptive Owner's Manual

Academic behavioral learning objective

Students will research the science behind and proper maintenance of an item either made or used by someone in their career area of interest.

Review any prerequisite knowledge that will lead easily into the new curriculum.

Students have conducted a close reading a manual during the Literature Search project.

Exact projects, or activities that will be used

See task outline for project details

Examples Refer to Chapters 8 & 10 of Successful Technical Writing by Bill Wesley Brown

The NEW curriculum that the students exit the lesson knowing

Students will have some practice creating visualizations and communicating complex scientific principles and basic procedures for the care and maintenance of a mechanical device used or created by someone in their career area of interest.

Lightning HybridsLightning Hybrids

Feasibility Study

Statement of Connection "Data is collected and analyzed constantly to improve efficiency in all processes (not just production, but sales marketing etc.) Data is also used to drive new product development efforts and target sales initiatives” John Gibson, Value Plastics.

Purpose To determine which product or process is most efficient and to determine the feasibility of a certain decision use similar writing skills. The Feasibility Project allows students to practice those writing skills.

What the students will learn, what they will be able to do upon completion

Students will be able to distinguish between qualitative and quantitative variables. Students will be able to define these variables. Students will be able to construct a comparison table. Students will be able to communicate conclusions and make recommendations based on the tabular information that they present.

What students already know before beginning the lesson

Students have had practice creating definitions, constructing tables in Microsoft Word, conducting research, creating conclusions and recommendations.

At least one way to assist the students in learning

Informative Resource links will be provided.

At least one way to evaluate the learning outcomes

See rubric

Value PlasticsValue Plastics

Feasibility Study

Academic behavioral learning objective

Students will research and create a feasibility report that includes a glossary, a comparison of quantifiable variables in tabular form. Students then must communicate their conclusions and suggested course of action based on their research.

Review any prerequisite knowledge that will lead easily into the new curriculum.

Students have shopped online for items, where they have used a tabular comparison grid, this experience can serve as a frame of reference.

Exact projects, or activities that will be used

See task outline for project details

Examples See student sample

The NEW curriculum that the students exit the lesson knowing

Students will leave this task with a greater understanding of how to communicate the analysis of data and the feasibility of a certain decision in writing.

Value PlasticsValue Plastics

Final Resume

Statement of Connection "The interview process is lengthy, applicants are asked behavioral questions 'tell me about a time when . . .', they are expected to answer in detail”, Todd Gorman, IntegWare.

Purpose The ability to apply the knowledge of skills, sources, and information learned during the course of any class to potential real-life situations is crucial. This task asks students to articulate those connections.

What the students will learn what they will be able to do upon completion

Students will be able to communicate application of skill sets that they have been practicing during the course and generate a current resume

What students already know before beginning the lesson

Students are familiar with the Power Point application. Students should also be aware of what a resume.

At least one way to assist the students in learning

Templates will be made available to students for both the PowerPoint presentation and the resume.

At least one way to evaluate the learning outcomes

See rubric

IntegWare IntegWare

Final Resume

Academic behavioral learning objective

Using PowerPoint presentations and resumes, students will articulate practical application for the theoretical practice that comprised class projects.

Review any prerequisite knowledge that will lead easily into the new curriculum.

Students will need to know how to use MS PowerPoint and MS Word Wizards

Exact projects, or activities that will be used

See task outline for project details

Examples Refer to pages 282-289 of Successful Technical Writing by Bill Wesley Brown

The NEW curriculum that the students exit the lesson knowing

Students will practice applying classroom practice to real-world scenarios, refined their practice of presentations, and updated their resume.

IntegWare IntegWare

ConclusionsBecause of new graduation requirements, English elective courses saw reduced enrollment numbers at our site. So few students pre-registered for this course that it will not be offered at Rocky Mountain High School in 2010-2011 school year; although it is obvious from my work with BETR Project that Technical Reading and Writing would be beneficial for any student planning to work in the 21st Century.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6

Resources"Colorado BETR Project", http://www.betrproject.org/, June 29, 2010.

Dawson-Peterson, Emily and Diane Jesser, "Tour and Question and Answer Session", Larimer Center for Mental Health, Fort Collins, Colorado, June 14, 2010

Eberle, Steve, Medical Center of the Rockies, Loveland, Colorado, June 15, 2010

Fat Boy Slim. “Right Here, Right Now." August and Everything After. CAROLINE ASTRALWERKS - CAT , 2006. MP3.

Fisch, Karl and Scott McLeod, "Did You Know 3.0 Full Video 2008", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o9nmUB2qls, June 29,2010.

Gibson, John, "Tour", Value Plastics, Fort Collins, Colorado, June, 16, 2010.

Gorman, Todd and Kellie Stapleton, "Tuesday Tour", IntegWare, Fort Collins, Colorado, June 16, 2010

Johnson, "Tour", Lightning Hybrids, Loveland, Colorado, June 17, 2010

Joseph, Roshan, "Tour" Colorado State University Small Engines Lab, Fort Collins, Colorado, June 15, 2010

Mullnix, Ralph et al, "Tour", Loveland Water and Power, Loveland, Colorado June 17, 2010