New York

Project: Contextualized Teaching and Learning Project

Professional Development Provider Organization (PDPO):

Rochester Labor Council
30 North Union Street
Rochester, New York 14607
Phone: 716/263-2650 FAX: 716/263-4671
Contact: Dr Jonathan Garlock rlcaflcio@aol.com

Vision and Goals:

The project in Rochester seeks to transform teachers' methods of instruction and curriculum development. They are interested in moving from isolated lessons to teaching and collaborative curriculum that provides contextualized learning opportunities for all students. The goal is for teachers to first experience a contextualized learning environment through their workplace experience and then to provide similar understandings and opportunities for their students. Although the teachers in this project have shadowed workers, completed interviews at the workplace, and toured work sites, they have not had the opportunity for fuller, more sustained experiences. TeachNET will provide them with that experience.

Participating Institutions:

Frederick Douglass Middle School 940 Fernwood Park Rochester, New York 14609 716/482-2000	Edison Technical and Occupational Education Center 655 Colfax Street Rochester, New York 14606 716/647-2200
Benjamin Franklin High School 950 Norton Street Rochester, New York 14621 716/467-3131	Monroe Community College 1000 East Henrietta Road Rochester, New York 14623 716/292-2000
Delphi Automotive Systems United Auto Workers Local 1097 P.O. Box 92700 Rochester, New York 14692	Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees 750 East Avenue Rochester, New York 14607 716/473-3280
Jordan Health Center 82 Holland Street P.O. Box 876 Rochester, New York 14603 716/423-5811

Summary of Project Activities:

Through externships and other extended workplace experiences, teachers together with worksite coordinators will focus on shop floor experiences affording a wide purview of workplace operations. The goal is to then have teachers translate those experiences into curricula. Worksite coordinators are union leaders with substantial experience on the shop floor as well s in adult raining and school presentations. The workplace experiences will vary from teacher to teacher or team to team with the majority taking place from two to six weeks during the summer. They will be located in one of four sites including the General Motors Delphi engine plant, the Xerox fabrication division, Strong Memorial Hospital and the Jordan Health Center.

Many students in the Rochester's public schools are at-risk resulting in widespread disengagement in learning. It is hoped that "real world" instructional opportunities will engage their urban students and give them hope and direction and challenge their minds in non-traditional ways.