LeTeEm - Learners, Teachers and Employers LeTeEm Employers Introduction Table of Contents LeTeEm Employers Introduction... 1 Table of Contents... 1 Introduction... 2 Need/Why... 2 Preparation... 2 Stage 1... 2 Stage 2... 3 Week by week project guide... 3 Week 1 Employers define a task... 3 Week 1: Teacher/Employer liaise on the brief... 4 Week 1: Teacher briefs students... 4 Week 2: Students clarify with Employer... 4 Week 3 to Week n: students weekly progress reports... 5 Final week: students present... 5 Rewards... 6 Appendix A Project Idea... 6 P a g e 1 The project LeTeEm - Learners, Teachers and Employers has been funded with support from the European Commission. This document reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Introduction The teaching and learning approach that is a collaboration between teachers, students and businesses is designed to help students understand the realities of the world of work. The LeTeEm project will encourage young European students to develop employability through creative thinking, curiosity and enquiry, critical thinking, social and communications skills, confidence and practicality, within the discipline of a real work task. The project needs employers to work with students by taking a real task in your organisation and giving the task to a team of local students to complete. Some initial examples are: Graphics package (logo/brochure/packaging, marketing text/translations/pricing to publish) Online marketing campaign (social networking/advertising/marketing texts/guerilla marketing/viral marketing/blogs & website) New products/services Apps (functionalities/logo/interface design/animation/ Navigation flow through the App/marketing) Online sales and trading (ebay/website/paypal/bitcoin/satisfaction warehousing/tracking systems/returns & customer satisfaction/pricing strategies) On/offline arts campaign (theatre/museum/orchestra/band etc website/street theatre/social network/blogs/brochure/leaflets) But you can create your own tasks for the students. The employer will behave like this is a real working team within the organisation. Need/Why It is clear that education is not in line with the needs of today s employers leading to skills gaps, on one hand and unemployment on the other. It is necessary that the needs of employers are taken in to account by education. For students, it is necessary that they understand what are the realities of the world of work and what are the demands and disciplines, so that they can quickly integrate into the work force. Preparation You have most probably been contacted by a teacher of the students that want to do this project; she will have given you this Introductory document. Stage 1 After you should meet with the teacher who will describe: The students that want to do the project (ages, subjects they learn, capabilities). P a g e 2
The time scale they would like. Any other important points Stage 2 You will then work with your teams to prepare a possible project and write an Employers task sheet (or more than one) that will be used to introduce the project to the students. The tasks should be as close to real tasks within your business as possible. Week by week project guide You can adapt to your particular needs, but there must be a clear path through the project for all. The project takes place over 3 to n weeks, plus a short preparatory period; these are: Week 0: Week 1: Finding an employer Employer prepares an Initial Brief Teacher and Employer liaise on the brief Week 2: Teacher briefs students Students meet with Employer Week 3 to Week n: Student's weekly progress reports Week 1 Employers define a task You have to provide a specification of what you want the students to do. You can devise more than one brief if you wish to give the student team a choice. You will complete the Employers task sheet and, if you wish, an Employers presentation. The employer may need to meet with his team to decide on the task for the students. Voluntary -You can also schedule a pre-decision meeting with the students (and teacher) to discuss the possibilities. The Employers task sheet will include details of the task, time targets, reporting requirements, contacts, where to get additional information etc. The Employers task sheet and presentation will be given to the student team to take away. Employer completes the Employers task sheet or sheets. P a g e 3
Week 1: Teacher/Employer liaise on the brief Teacher approval of the project/s briefs Teacher reads the Employers task sheet and provides feedback based on the capabilities, interests and knowledge of the students. May send questions or arrange a meeting (does not have to be in person) to ask for clarification or adjustments. Teacher should also ensure: Who will interact with the students Communication channels Timescale Final agreed version of the Employers task sheet. Week 1: Teacher briefs students Before you meet the students that will do the task their Teacher prepares them for the initial meeting with the employer and gives them the final version of the Employers task sheet. The Students assigned to particular tasks may ask questions that will be sent to you with a request for a meeting. The students will send you the Employers Sheet with their questions. You should amend and answer their questions and send you an amended Employers Sheet back to them. They will then prepare their Students project plan. Week 2: Students clarify with Employer Students initial meeting for finalisation of the Students project plan with the employer. The teachers do not attend this meeting. P a g e 4
You offer dates for the meeting. Students agree a date and confirm 24 hours before. The meeting is conducted in the same way as a regular similar business meeting. Minutes are taken with an attendance list. Potential agenda: Introduction of the employer and team. Presentation of the Employer s company. Students introduce themselves and their areas of interest. Employer shows the prepared presentation The final Employers task template is distributed and the employer shows where it has been adapted in response to the students clarification questions. A timetable is finalised and recorded. Students ask additional questions Suggestion: Students are given a tour of the employer s facility and introduced to some staff. Agreed final Students project plan with timetable. Minutes of the meeting given to the students as well as kept by the employer. Week 3 to Week n: students weekly progress reports Completion of the Students project plan. Students complete their Students project plan and meet with the teacher to discuss. Commence task. Weekly reports to the teacher based on progress against the project plan Voluntary or required - Formal reporting meetings with the company (eg. every 2 weeks). The number of progress meetings will be decided between the teacher and employer. It is a good idea to also devise a fall-back plan for problems. The students also carry out a self and peer appraisal by reporting on their progress against the Students project plan every 2 weeks Complete set of completed tasks of the Students project plan. Final product. Final week: students present P a g e 5
Students deliver the products/results to the company The students prepare the final version of the products and a presentation (can include introductory video). These are then shown in a formal presentation by the students to a team of teachers, including the supervising teacher. The teacher team provide feedback and the students adjust if necessary. A final meeting with the company is agreed. Students rehearse the presentation and roles. The presentation of the products to the employer Acceptance of the products by the employer Rewards Reward to the students it is suggested that the employer gives a strong reward to the students, exactly how should be decided by the employer. This could reach up to a PR release to local media. Appendix A Project Idea Project tasks Graphics package (logo/brochure/packaging, marketing text/translations/pricing to publish) Online marketing campaign (social networking/advertising/marketing texts/guerilla marketing/viral marketing/blogs & website) New products/services Apps (functionalities/logo/interface design/animation/ Navigation flow through the App/marketing) Links to subject areas ICT, Arts, Languages, Economics, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship (Civics), Specialised elective subjects ICT, Arts, Languages, Economics, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship (Civics), Psychology, Philosophy, Specialised elective subjects Online sales and trading (ebay/website/paypal/bitcoin/satisfaction warehousing/tracking systems/returns & customer satisfaction/pricing strategies) On/offline arts campaign (theatre/museum/orchestra/band etc website/street theatre/social network/blogs/brochure/leaflets) P a g e 6