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Co-operative Education

Co-operative education is an experiential mode of learning, delivered under Ministry of Education guidelines, that integrates academic study and theory with on-the-job experience. Students are placed in training stations in the community where they are provided with challenging responsibilities and learn by doing.

Co-operative Education assists students bound for university or college and students entering the workplace in making career decisions, as well as in developing knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential in today’s society.

Co-operative Education is the direct pathway to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. This allows students to train as apprentices and earn credit hours toward their apprenticeship. Click here to see OYAP link.

School-to-work programs provide students with an opportunity to explore and experience in-school learning in an out-of-school setting. School-to-work programs bring students directly in touch with the realities of the work world.

Co-operative education is one form of school-to-work that involves a set of planned educational experiences designed to enable learners to acquire attitudes, skills and knowledge related to work through their participation in work placements.

Benefits:

For the student:

• Provides an opportunity for the student to recognize the relationship between schoolwork and career objectives.
• Provides an opportunity to explore basic information about business, industry, labour and self, necessary for intelligent career choices.
• Increases self-confidence and self-reliance.
• Facilitates the transition from school to work.
• Enhances positive student attitudes toward lifelong learning.
• Provides opportunities to observe and operate equipment not available in schools.
• Helps identify capabilities and limitations.

For the training organization:

• Allows for direct interaction with students and teachers in order to assist in the development of future directions in education.
• Develops a workforce of future employees with employment skills and a positive work ethic.
• Creates an environment by which business and industry can demonstrate community involvement.
• Promotes awareness of job opportunities within various industries

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Policies:

• One credit per 110-hour co-operative education credit course successfully completed.
• A co-operative education course requires a Personalized Placement Learning Plan.
• A co-operative education teacher must monitor students.
• A co-operative education course must be based on a relative course (host course) in which the student is enrolled or which he/she has successfully completed.
• Co-operative education courses include a classroom component, comprising pre-placement and integration activities, and a workplace component.
• Pre-placement orientation must be scheduled for a minimum of 15-20 hours.
• Co-operative education students earn credits by successfully meeting the curriculum expectations of the related course.
• Students must apply to take a co-operative education course during the course selection process.
• Students must go through an interview process prior to being admitted to a co-operative education program
• A Work Education Agreement must be completed and signed by all parties prior to student placement.
• Student evaluation is the responsibility of the co-operative education teacher.
• The assessment and evaluation of students at their placements must be based on the achievement of the expectations identified in their personalized placement learning plans.

Roles

The Co-op Teacher

• Promote the co-operative education, work experience, and school–work transition programs to students, parents, staff, school councils, and potential employers.
• Develop pre-course counseling and interviewing procedures for all students who wish to participate.
• Interview and select students for community-based learning programs.
• Follow the school board’s placement procedures for all community-based learning programs.
• Identify and secure placements in which students will be able to achieve the course expectations, experience growth, and develop career goals.
• Assess placements for suitability
• Inform employers of their role and responsibilities and of the responsibilities of the partnership prior to student placement.
• Organize and conduct pre-placement orientation sessions to prepare students.
• Develop a Personalized Placement Learning Plan for each student with the assistance of the student, the supervisor, and the teacher of the related course.
• Consult regularly with students, employers, supervisors, employees, and other teachers.
• Make regular on-site learning assessments of students at their placements. (Three times per student per co-operative education credit, at least twice through direct personal contact)
• Assess and evaluate student performance.
• Update and adjust students’ placement learning plans as required.
• Assess whether placement supervision is appropriate.
• Organize and conduct regular integration activities. (A minimum of seven hours per co-operative education credit)
• Manage the day-to-day administrative tasks associated with co-operative education and work experience programs. (Including reporting to the school administration or to the ministry of education)
• Keep dated, anecdotal records on student placement learning assessment.
• Help students arrange appropriate transportation to their placements.
• Provide health and safety instruction and information on insurance coverage.
• Follow workplace safety and insurance board and school board procedures for accident reports.
• Liaise with guidance counselors, school administrators, teacher-advisers, www.lkdsb.net staff, and parents.
• Work with students and supervisors to ensure that any problems are dealt with immediately

The Workplace Supervisor:

• Sign the Work Education Agreement to identify who provides WSIB student coverage.
• Be familiar with and follow accident-reporting procedures.
• Assist the co-operative education teacher in developing realistic and challenging Personalized Placement Learning Plans for their students.
• Become familiar with students’ strengths and the areas in which improvement is needed.
• Direct and guide students’ learning through on-site supervision.
• Acquaint students with company personnel and procedures.
• Provide placement-specific safety training.
• Report student absences to the co-operative education teacher immediately.
• Contact the co-operative education teacher when concerns arise.
• Work with students and teachers to ensure that any problems are dealt with immediately.
• Review and sign the daily logs at the end of each week.
• Jointly assess student progress with teachers, and provide written performance appraisals.
• Complete the Program Effectiveness Survey.
• Share their expertise with students.
• Help student’s function as an integral part of a team.

The Student:

• Comply with all company rules as to dress, safety codes, work schedule, and policies.
• Work in a courteous, responsible, and business-like manner and show appropriate initiative.
• Observe and comply with the rules and regulations of the placement and the school, including confidentiality requirements.
• Comply with school attendance policies in both the placement and classroom sessions.
• Submit assignments as required.
• Inform the placement supervisor and the co-operative education teacher in advance if they are unable to report to their placements.
• Participate in the development and implementation of their personalized placement learning plans.
• Participate with their supervisors and teachers in the assessment of their own performances.
• Complete their course requirements to obtain credits toward the Ontario Secondary School diploma
• Participate in the development and implementation of their personalized placement learning plans.
• Work with teachers and supervisors to ensure that problems are dealt with immediately.

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Program Components:

Contact Information

• Email the OYAP Co-ordinator, John Esplen, esplenjo@lkdsb.net
• Call 519-354-3775 Ext 285
• Contact the Guidance department at your local high school.

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Last edited on: 10/06/2008

© 2008 Lambton Kent District School Board

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