Summary
Workplace Readiness Skills (WRS) are an integral part of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum. Every CTE course in the Commonwealth of Virginia has requirements/competencies to fulfill that assists students in passing the WRS certification exam, and preparing for the workforce. The ultimate objective of WRS is to cultivate workplace readiness skills within students that will last throughout their years of employment. Students in an Economics and Personal Finance course created and participate in a WRS Boot-camp. Their Boot-camp is dynamic, engaging and generates interest among students targeted to pass the WRS exam. The Boot-camp takes place over four days and includes a WRS Google presentation & Kahoot.it session, Quizlet flash cards for vocabulary session, Nearpod for the math session, participation in a WRS challenge game for interview skills. With the exception of the WRS challenge game, materials for the Boot-camp were organized and facilitated by CTE students. The goal of students in this class is to present WRS in a simplistic manner that empowers confidence and understanding in all students who are required to pass the WRS certification exam.
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The activities of day 2 of the bootcamp focus on research and gathering appropriate materials (workplace readiness vocabulary terms, work related questions & scenarios, math word problems and other resources) that will be engaging to students throughout the bootcamp. The WRS exam covers 21 categories; therefore, student organizers scrutinize questions and resources carefully to ensure the bootcamp content addresses these categories. Given the time allotment of 30-minutes for each session, students analyze and select the number of questions, etc. that can be covered in each session. Further, they scout the campus to determine the best location for each session and include a pre-bootcamp session with the principal.
Student organizers worked collaboratively to keep themselves on task, create maintain their focus and in organizing and facilitating the bootcamp for student participants. They communicate regularly to compile the content for the bootcamp and create an engaging format.
During the math session of the bootcamp, student organizers employ the use of Nearpod to bring word problems to student participants for resolution. The word problems increase in difficulty. Solving real-life math related problems requires students to critically review the facts, identify steps for resolution and calculate the data accurately. Although group collaboration on difficult problems is permitted, students must justify their method of resolution and their answers.
The bootcamp modules comprise a creative, innovative approach to Workplace Readiness Skills preparation. Research did not reveal any other WRS bootcamp for high school students. Student organizers worked together to creative an innovative approach for the students at their school to prepare for the Workplace Readiness Skills exam. Meeting with the principal was a risk that student organizers take to ensure student participants understand the importance of passing this exam and are at their best for the bootcamp. Although this risk was successful, student organizers were aware that some students could shy away from meeting with the principal even for good purposes.
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