The teachers encourage their students at all levels to think about what they will face when they enter the workforce. It's important that we make students aware of how frequently the work environment changes. The most important skill we can give them is the ability to adapt to new situations and help them realize that the learning process will continue in the workplace and will be a lifelong endeavour. The school's focus on technology has already shown benefits. Don Dove, head of the science department at Elwood, reports that enrolment in science and technology courses is increasing.
Students are anxious to be involved in science and technology.
We have added Vernier sensing and computer interface equipment to the traditional labs. Students get better results from the experiments that they perform. It also gives them a greater opportunity to deal with different experimental methods. Most importantly, our students are becoming better problem-solvers. Steven Brooks, the cooperative education teacher at the school, sees the benefits of the approach first hand.