Blended Learning | News

Edgenuity Offers New Suite of Curricula for Career and Technical Education

• By Kevin Hudson
• 05/01/13

Online and blended learning solutions provider Edgenuity has launched a new suite of courses for career and technical education at the middle and high school levels.

The full suite of instructional and elective blended learning offerings align to standards developed by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), according to a company release, and are designed to prepare students for job readiness in the modern marketplace.

The multi-year course progression is divided into three phases, including:

• Explorations, for grades 6-9, featuring the Career Explorations course along with a suite of electives where project-based learning is coupled with interest and skill assessments to expose students to pathways, qualifications, education, and training associated with United States Department of Labor career clusters. This foundational semester is followed by multimedia offerings in computer science, digital arts, engineering, and game design;
• Career Planning and Life Skills, for grades 7-10, offers courses to help build digital citizenship, personal wellness, study skills, employability skills, and business literacy with personal finance, strategies for academic success, and foundations of personal wellness courses; and
• Pathways, for grades 10-12, provides a capstone for students by offering exploration into specific careers and professional training. Foundation classes introduce students to information technology, health science, and business. Students go on to complete the pathways when they elect to take the occupational specialization courses and prepare to test for industry credentials as a medical coder, nurse assistant, pharmacy technician, A+ certified help technician, or Microsoft Office specialist.

Instructional content within the courses is delivered via interactive tasks, vocabulary-building tools, and project-based assessments, with video segments featuring teachers and industry experts guiding students through concepts and skills with visual support.

"It is essential to prepare students not only for academic achievement, but also for the career and life skills they will need after graduation," said Sari Factor, CEO of Edgenuity, in a release. "The right mix of academic and career-focused programs can give students a jump start on preparing for the high demand jobs of the future."