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SVEC prepares for virtual education
By BOB McCLURE
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/080207_pco-08.jpg) |
| Photo by BOB MCCLURE |
| Matt Fischer, director of the Seminole Vocational Education Center, sees a bright future for the Seminole technical school. |
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SEMINOLE – The face of the Seminole Vocational Education Center is changing.
Once targeted to close, central Pinellas County’s center for technical training could be transformed into a new style of education called virtual education.
No plans are firm just yet, but director Matt Fischer said virtual education is among a number of things on the table for the campus at 86th Avenue and 125th Street.
Under virtual education, the role of the school would be transformed into a nontraditional form of education. It would allow students to take classes at any hour of the day.
“It would deliver academics through new technology with the teachers changing roles and becoming coaches and mentors,” said Fischer. “The kids would be able to move at their own pace.”
Fischer said the county is collecting pieces nationally with the hopes of creating something that doesn’t exist now.
“It would be academic instruction through technology,” said Fischer. “There’s a growing demand for virtual learning both statewide and nationally.”
The plan is among many under consideration by Superintendent Clayton Wilcox, who has mandated a specific program in technical education at all Pinellas high schools, called Center of Excellence career path programs, by the 2009-’10 school year.
Fischer said 2007-’08 will be a transition year as part of a process to redesign SVEC’s curriculum to be “attuned to business and industry needs.”
One thing is certain. The school will no longer offer its gas engine repair program and the floral design program is slowly being phased out.
The redesigned curriculum is expected to revolve around a construction trades program that will offer national industry certification in carpentry and electrical wiring.
A revamped agri-science program offers veterinary assistant, horticulture and enviro-science instruction that will eventually lead to national industry certification.
The school also plans to integrate academics into the training process more.
“We want to explain why algebra and English are important in career fields,” said Fischer. “The hopes are they (students) become more successful in their careers when they apply it.”
Fischer said the center is continuing to build partnerships and is close to completing a deal for a dual-enrollment at St. Petersburg College in the veterinary assistance program.
“After students complete our level 3 program here they could get additional training at SPC, which would lead to a stronger preparation in that career field,” said Fischer.
The center is also considering a partnership with Pinellas Technical Educational Center in its construction trades curriculum that would allow students to move more effectively in a direction of pre-apprenticeship.
“Industry is out there saying we need quality workers,” Fischer said. “They need high school grads who can think, compute and apply the academic piece to be more effective in their jobs.”
SVEC and county officials are also tossing around the idea of a new program that would offer training for repair of electronic components.
“All of our decisions are based on what the current labor trends are,” said Fischer. “We look at high-wage, high-demand careers, as well as something that would be of interest to the students.”
In addition to offering programs for high school students, Fischer also hopes to begin an adult education program at SVEC that would offer classes both in the evening and at night.
For further information, call 545-6405.
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007
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