Students in the Principles and Methods of Teaching class at Northwestern Oklahoma State University took part in the annual Career Connection Fair “From Learning to Earning” at the Northwest Technology Center in Alva on Nov. 20.
More than 200 sixth grade students from schools in the area participated in eight different career clusters to learn about various opportunities in agriculture, business, construction, bio-medical, education, health, transportation and personal services.
“The youth explore career options through hands-on activities and presentations by rotating through the many career clusters during the day,” said Connie Jacobs, instructor of education. “The Northwestern Principles and Methods of Education class prepared and conducted a career cluster to encourage the sixth graders to consider a career in the teaching profession.”
Jacobs explained the course that she teaches focuses on the role of the teacher as a learning facilitator who provides educational activities through various instructional methods to engage all learners in critical thinking, creativity and collaborative problem-solving related to local and global issues.
“One way to achieve the course focus is through authentic field experience opportunities such as the Northwest Technology Center’s sixth grade Career Connections Fair,” Jacobs said. “This year, the Northwestern teacher candidates created fun learning stations that highlighted their specific areas of study or majors. “
Students in the class include social science education major Grace Tepe, Woodward senior; health and sports science education majors Caitlin Clark, Ponca City senior, and Shelby Anderson, Mountain Hope, Arkansas, senior; English education majors Kambria Witschi, Shattuck senior, and Ali Harbin, Anthony, Kansas, senior; and mathematics education majors Matthew Thomas, Alva senior; Scotty McCartney, Harper, Kansas, senior; Austin Hawkins, Cherokee senior; and Dakota Buckhaults, Buffalo senior.
Seven Northwestern cheerleaders also helped during the career fair by leading a physical activity for the students.
Helping with the games were Dalton Burlie, Cherokee sophomore; Emily Ceniceros, Buffalo sophomore; Alexia Geer, Stillwater sophomore; Aleah Lasker, Palmdale, California, freshman; Melissa Noland, Anchorage, Alaska, sophomore; Jordan Whitfield, Texhoma freshman; and Shaq Williams, Davenport, Florida, sophomore.
For more information contact Jacobs at (580) 327-8459 or csjacobs@nwosu.edu. To learn more about Northwestern’s Division of Education or how to become a teacher, contact Jacobs or Dr. Christee Jenlink, professor of education and chair of the Division of Education, at (580) 327-8450 or cljenlink@nwosu.edu. To find out more information about the Northwestern cheerleading squad, contact Brooke Ciolino, cheer coach, at (580) 327-8132 or kbciolino@nwosu.edu.