Cooperative Education

What Is Cooperative Education?

Cooperative Education is an experiential mode of learning, delivered under Ministry of Education and Training guidelines, that integrates academic study and classroom theory with experiences in the workplace.

Students divide their time between school and the workplace, spending at least half the day with the employer. While at the workplace, students are provided with challenging responsibilities and learn by doing.

This 3-way partnership between the high school student, the business community, and the school, combines classroom instruction with practical "on the job" training.

Through Cooperative Education, the students should:

• develop employability skills, thus improving chances for getting a full time job
  
• help enhance the work ethic and provide valuable lessons such as pride in a job well done, punctuality, dependability and honesty
  
• look to employers to give them an opportunity to prove themselves in real-life work settings
  
• make it easier to understand how academic education leads to a rewarding future.

What Are Work Experiences?
Cooperative Education students learn at school and then extend those objectives into the workplace. The experience of real working conditions can improve their potential as future employees and can help them develop a positive attitude towards themselves, their education, and their career. Typical Co-op placements include working in a day care centre, a garage, an office, a kitchen, a lab, etc.

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a form of Cooperative Education that allows students to earn hours towards their apprenticehship. It is a specialized program offered to Cooperative Education students that enables them to meet diploma requirements while participating in an occupation that requires apprenticeship. They are also considered to be full time students and are therefore entitled to all school holidays unless mutually agreed upon by the OYAP sponsor and student. Students working outside school hours must be paid, and the sponsor will be responsible for WSIB. Because students are registered as apprentices when they participate in OYAP, they may be paid at the rate for apprentices as outlined in the Trades Qualifications Apprenticeship Act and/or the Apprenticeship Certification Act.

Program Overview And Duration
During the pre-placement period, held at the beginning of the semester, the student is in the classroom preparing to enter the world of work. Topics that are covered during these first two weeks include resume and cover letter writing, using the telephone, how to prepare for an interview, health and safety, union, employer expectations, confidentiality and other topics related to work readiness. The Cooperative Education student arranges an interview with a prospective training sponsor, and if successful, would be placed at that business for his/her work experience. During the semester the Cooperative Education student will occasionally come back to class for peer and reflective sessions where they will discuss and share what they have learned at the workplace.


Getting Into A Work Experience Program

GWL 30* / GWL 40*
Students may select this course if they are:
- mature individuals who are dependable and responsible
- possess a willingness to learn
- courteous, punctual, and show appropriate initiative
- taking or have already taken a secondary school credit in the area of study related to a possible cooperative education placement:

students wanting to work in a garage should have taken or be taking Auto-Mechanics students wanting to work in a daycare should have taken or be taking Parenting students wanting to work in a school should have taken or be taking English (It should be noted that other related courses may apply in the examples above.) The related course will determine the grade level of the Cooperative Education credit. (E.g. If the related courses at the grade 11 level, the Cooperative Education credits will also be at the grade 11 level. ARC 40* - Military/Naval Reserve Co-op The Army/Naval Reserve Co-op is a career exploration program run jointly between St. Ignatius and the Canadian Forces. It is designed to assist the student in deciding if the Canadian Forces is a career option. If the student is accepted into the program, the student will undergo basic military training at the Thunder Bay Armoury, as well as other training locations. If you are at least 16, a Canadian citizen, have a minimum of 15 credits, and are free of any legal obligations, then this could be for you. This specialized program is offered only during the afternoons of the second semester. Contact your Cooperative Education Teacher for further details on this challenging experience. Students Responsibilities in Cooperative Education: comply with all company rules as to dress, safety codes, work schedule, and policies 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 Cooperative Education Teacher in advance if they are unable to report to their placement.

Examples of Work Experience Placements

Accountant	Army Reserve
Auto Body Repair	Auto Parts Dismantler
Automotive Service Technician	Carpenter
Child and Youth Worker	Clerical
Complex Chronic Care	Computer Graphic Design
Computer Technician	Cook
Day Hospital-St. Joseph's Care Grp.	Dental Assistant
Draft Person	Early Childhood Educator
Education Assistant	Electrician
Farm Hand	Florist
Forklift Mechanic	General Helper
Hairstylist Assistant	Library Assistant
Machinist	Maintenance Worker
Parts Person	Pastry Chef's Assistant
Pet Groomer's Assistant	Physiotherapist Assistant
Plumber's Assistant	Police Services
Retail Sales	Sheet Metal Worker
Small Engine Technician	Social Worker
Tire Repair Specialist	Transition Unit St. Joseph Care Group
Travel / Tourism	Veterinarian Assistant
Video Production	Welder's Assistant

For further information on these exciting programs, contact:
Mr. Nigro or Mrs. Frankow at 344-8433 Ext: 237

You can also visit these sites.

www.livesafeworksmart.net

www.preventit.ca