Waterloo-Oxford D.S.S. Co-op Department
Co-operative Education
Course Description
Planned learning experiences that take place in the community, including job shadowing and job twinning, work
experience and virtual work experience, and cooperative education, provide students who are enrolled in courses of all
types and in all disciplines with the opportunity to enhance their school programs.
A student’s cooperative education program comprises a cooperative education course (GWL 3OI/GLN4OI) and the
related curriculum course (or courses) or ministry-approved locally developed course on which the cooperative education
course must be based.
The cooperative education course consists of a classroom component and a placement component. Through these two
components, the cooperative education course prepares the student for successful participation in a work placement;
provides sufficient time and various opportunities at the placement to enable the student to apply and further develop the
knowledge and skills acquired in the related course; and provides opportunities for the student to integrate the learning
acquired in school and at the placement.
Identifying Information
Course Title:
Course Code:
Course Type:
Grade:
Credit Value:
Ministry Document:
Textbook:
GWL3OI/GLN4OI Co-operative Education
Subject Based
Open
11/12
2+ Credits
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/secondary/coop/cooped.pdf
Co-operative Education Pre-placement Handbook
Course Units
Unit
1
Description – Term Weight (70%)
Job Readiness
- Job Readiness is the ability to effectively communicate and demonstrate the various aspects
required in the job search process.
2
Health and Safety
- Canadian workers must understand general and specific workplace Health & Safety
legislation, rules and regulations required to protect everyone at the workplace.
- Working safely includes the ability to access information, ability to follow procedure, and
receive proper training.
3
Rights and Responsibilities
- Federal and provincial legislation provide the backbone to our vocational rights and
responsibilities and are there to help us work effectively and safely in all workplaces.
4
Workplace Opportunities and Challenges
- The ever changing nature of work requires a keen awareness of the workplace opportunities
and challenges facing Canadian workers.
5
Reflective Learning
- Reflective learning helps to analyze placement experiences and reinforce course
expectations.
SUM Summative Project/Activity/Exam – Summative Weight (30%)
- A final project or exam to demonstrate the students understanding of the course content.
Co-op Course Outline
Essential Course Components
To be successful in this course you must be able to demonstrate all of the following skills.
 Demonstrate the ability to work safely
 Navigate the job search process
 Understanding of employment law, workplace ethics, human rights and confidentiality
 Ability to self-evaluate skills and abilities, determine growth and next steps
 Relate placement experience to curriculum expectations
 Creation of Employment Portfolio
GWL 3OI/GLN4OI
Term Work: 70%
There will be a major summative evaluation related to each unit of study described above. Each of these assessments
MUST be completed. Students cannot begin their workplace experience until they have completed the evaluations for
units 1 & 2 as outlined by the Ministry of Education.
Year End Culminating Activities:30%
Display Board/Portfolio/Exam
Out of School Component:
Term Work: 70%
Weekly logs and journals
Employer/teacher workplace evaluations
Reflective Reports
Appreciation Breakfast participation
Each of the above is considered a major summative evaluation which MUST be completed. Students cannot earn
placement credits unless they hand in weekly logs and journals, as outlined by the ministry of Education.
Year End Culminating Activities:30%
Placement Presentation/Final workplace evaluation/Exam
Required Materials and Resources:
It is highly recommended that students purchase the Co-op workbook, at a cost of $10, or alternatively students will
create their own notes. Students are required to attend an employer appreciation breakfast at the end of the school
year. Each student is expected to pay for his/her own breakfast at a cost of $10. Each student will be assigned a course
handbook, which will be used throughout the course, with a replacement cost of $13.
Additional Components Required by the Ministry
Co-op is a unique program and has specific requirements set out by the Ministry of Education. The Pre-employment
component must be completed to the satisfaction of the co-op teacher prior to the student starting the Work Placement
Component. In addition to the Essential Course Components, to be successful in this course you must also complete the
following:
 Paperwork including WEAF
 Understanding of Pre-placement Component (including Health and Safety)
 Effectively document workplace duties and hours in weekly logs
 Development of a Personalized Placement Learning Plan (PPLP)
 Reflection of learning at the placement
 Attendance during the pre-placement, workplace and integration components
- meeting minimum hour requirements set by the Ministry of Education
 Formal evaluations conducted with the teacher and placement supervisor
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Co-op Course Outline
Procedures
Key values of Waterloo-Oxford Secondary School and the WRDSB include respect, responsibility, honesty, and
trustworthiness. Our expectations for student behaviour and academic conduct come from these core values. In
accordance with WRDSB guidelines outlined in the Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting Handbook, the following
policies are in effect for each subject at Waterloo-Oxford:
a) Late and Missed Assignments
It is the expectation that students will submit all required work by the assigned deadlines as evidence of their learning
of essential skills.
i. Failure to do so may result in a loss of credit; however, in consultation with the teacher and the appropriate
administrator, additional opportunities will be afforded to students to demonstrate their learning of the essential
skills.
ii. If one or more essential skills are not demonstrated, students in Grades 9 and 10 may receive an “I” and will
not be granted credit for the course. Students in Grades 11 and 12 risk losing credit for the course.
iii. The Learning Skills section of the student’s Provincial Report Card will be used to reflect incidents of late and
missed assignments.
b) Cheating and Plagiarism
It is the expectation that students will submit their own, original work for the purpose of demonstrating their learning.
In the event that cheating or plagiarism occurs, the following consequences may be implemented, in consultation with
administration, depending on the situation:
i. The student may be required to redo all or part of the assignment or assessment.
ii. The student may be required to complete an alternate assignment or assessment.
iii. The student’s work may be treated as a missed assignment.
iv. Additional consequences for cheating or plagiarizing material may include a loss of access to Waterloo-Oxford
academic awards and scholarship opportunities. As well, potential disciplinary actions may include suspension.
v. The Learning Skills section of the student’s Provincial Report Card will be used to reflect incidents of cheating
and plagiarism.
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Co-op Course Outline
CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
One of the important goals of co-operative education is to allow students to experience the world of work. Part of this learning
experience is to learn how to deal with responsibilities in a proper manner. As a result, this sheet outlines the important expectations of
every Waterloo-Oxford co-operative education student.
1. If students will be missing a class due to a school related activity, they must inform their teacher, in
advance, and make alternate arrangements for tests, assignments etc. Students are expected to write any
missed assessments their first day back to school.
2. If students are absent due to unplanned circumstances (e.g. illness ) they must call and inform their teacher
(or leave a message with the office staff specifically for their teacher) to state the reason for absence.
3. Students are expected to attend all classes in the pre-placement phase of the course (September and
October). This time in class is critical for proper preparation before commencing a co-op placement. Not
adhering to this strict attendance policy may result in dismissal from the co-op program.
4.
If students will be absent from their co-op placements, they must contact both their co-op employer and
their monitoring teacher before the work day starts. Teachers and employers must be notified, well in
advance, for any planned absences ( this includes school related activities such as field trips and sports). Any
invalid or unreported absence from a co-op placement may result in immediate dismissal from the co-op program.
5.
Log sheets must be completed and handed in, with an employer signature every co-op Monday. Late log
sheets must be submitted before the next log sheet is due. Failure to maintain up to date logs and
journals may result in temporary suspension from attending the co-op placement. Remember, co-op
credits are awarded based on hours worked at a co-op placement. (110 hours = 1 credit)
6. If students choose to work at their co-op placement on a day other than a regularly scheduled co-op day,
they must fill out an addendum sheet and have it signed by their co-op employer and returned to their
monitoring teacher before they work. Failure to do so will result in the hours worked that day not being
counted towards credit, as well as the students not being covered by the Workers’ Safety and Insurance
Board for that day.
7. Any inaccurate log hour entries, whether or not done with intent, will result in nullifying all hours
recorded on that log sheet. This may also lead to dismissal from the co-op program.
8. If a student wishes to change his/her work placement, he/she must consult with his/her co-op teacher while
continuing to attend the current work placement. Placement changes may occur during the second half of
the school year.
9. In order to obtain co-op credits, a student must remain registered and in attendance in all co-op courses (inschool and out-of-school) until the completion of the courses.
10. Attendance at the co-op employer appreciation breakfast in the spring is mandatory for all co-op students,
regardless of the attendance of the co-op employer. Interview dress is expected at the breakfast.
11. All students must adhere to the “Expectations for Students at WODSS” while in school and at their co-op
placements.
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Co-op Course Outline
Agreement
Please print your name and sign below indicating you have read and understand the requirements for successful completion of this course.
Student Name
Parent/Guardian Name
Student Signature
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Date
Preferred Method of Contact
 Phone
 Email
Daytime phone number
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Email
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