Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) General
requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grade 12. The
practicum course is a paid or unpaid capstone experience for students
participating in a coherent sequence of career and technical education courses
in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Career Cluster.
Prerequisites: Algebra I and Geometry. Recommended prerequisites: two credits
from the courses in the STEM Career Cluster. Corequisite: Practicum in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This course must be taken
concurrently with Practicum in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics and may not be taken as a stand-alone course. Students shall be
awarded one credit for successful completion of this course. A student may
repeat this course once for credit provided that the student is experiencing
different aspects of the industry and demonstrating proficiency in additional
and more advanced knowledge and skills.
(b) Introduction.
(1) Career and technical education
instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and
relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education
and succeed in current or emerging professions.
(2) The STEM Career Cluster focuses on
planning, managing, and providing scientific research and professional and
technical services, including laboratory and testing services, and research and
development services.
(3) Extended
Practicum in STEM is designed to give students supervised practical application
of previously studied knowledge and skills. Practicum experiences can occur in
a variety of locations appropriate to the nature and level of
experience.
(4) Students are
encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and
technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular
organizations.
(5) Statements that
contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while
those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative
examples.
(c) Knowledge
and skills.
(1) The student demonstrates
professional standards/employability skills as required by business and
industry. The student is expected to:
(A)
participate in a paid or unpaid, laboratory- or work-based application of
previously studied knowledge and skills related to STEM;
(B) participate in training, education, or
preparation for licensure, certification, or other relevant credentials to
prepare for employment;
(C)
demonstrate professional standards and personal qualities needed to be
employable such as self-discipline, positive attitude, integrity, leadership,
appreciation for diversity, customer service, work ethic, and adaptability with
increased fluency;
(D) employ
teamwork and conflict-management skills with increased fluency to achieve
collective goals; and
(E) employ
planning and time-management skills and tools such as prioritizing tasks,
following schedules, and performing goal-relevant activities with increased
fluency to enhance results and complete work tasks.
(2) The student applies professional
communications strategies. The student is expected to:
(A) demonstrate verbal and non-verbal
communication consistently in a clear, concise, and effective manner;
(B) apply active listening skills to obtain
and clarify information;
(C) create
and deliver formal and informal presentations effectively;
(D) analyze, interpret, and effectively
communicate information, data, and observations; and
(E) observe and interpret verbal and
nonverbal cues and behaviors to enhance communication.
(3) The student implements advanced
problem-solving methods. The student is expected to:
(A) employ critical-thinking skills with
increased fluency both independently and in groups to solve problems and make
decisions;
(B) analyze elements of
problems to develop creative and innovative solutions;
(C) apply decision-making techniques with
increased fluency to the selection of technological solutions; and
(D) conduct technical research to gather
information necessary for decision making.
(4) The student understands and applies
proper safety and security techniques in the workplace. The student is expected
to understand and consistently follow workplace safety rules and
regulations.
(5) The student
understands the professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities in
STEM-related fields. The student is expected to:
(A) demonstrate a positive, productive work
ethic by performing assigned tasks as directed;
(B) apply ethical reasoning to a variety of
situations in order to make ethical decisions; and
(C) comply with all applicable rules, laws,
and regulations in a consistent manner.
(6) The student participates in a supervised
STEM experience. The student is expected to:
(A) conduct, document, and evaluate learning
activities in a supervised STEM experience;
(B) develop advanced technical knowledge and
skills related to the student's occupational objective;
(C) evaluate strengths and weaknesses in
technical skill proficiency; and
(D) collect representative work
samples.