BETR Lesson Plans
Submitted by
A. Yamashita
Lesson Plan with Real World
Connections
Declaration
of
Specialization
Final
Resume
Feasibility
Study
Literature
Search
and
Rescue
Loveland
Water
and Power
IntegWare
Real
World
Technical
Writing
Descriptive
Owner’s
Manual
Medical
Center of
the Rockies
Field
Study
Proposal
Task
Value
Plastics
Lightning
Hybrids
CSU
Engines
&
Conversion
Laboratory
Larimer
Center
for
Mental Health
Declaration of
Specialization
Medical Center
of the Rockies
Statement of Connection
"Make sure that you are doing something that you love. . .even if
a person is proficient at something you can tell if their heart isn't
in it” (Steve Eberle, Medical Center of the Rockies).
Purpose of Lesson
This project allows students to explore whether or not what they
plan to study is something they can put their heart into.
What the students will learn what
they will be able to do upon
completion
Students will learn about agents that will aide in their pursuit of
the chosen career field.
What students already know before
beginning the lesson
Students may be aware of an interesting career field, they may
also have already completed course work in preparation for work
in that career field.
At least one way to assist the
students in learning
Informative resource links and a review of web-based search
engine use will be provided.
At least one way to evaluate the
learning outcomes
See rubric
Declaration of
Specialization
Medical Center
of the Rockies
Academic behavioral learning
objective
See objectives
Review any prerequisite knowledge
that will lead easily into the new
curriculum.
Students will need to know how to access MS Word and the
Internet
Exact projects, or activities that will
be used
See task outline for project details
Examples
See sample
The NEW curriculum that the
students exit the lesson knowing
Students will have learned information to help them pursue their
chosen career, practiced sourcing information from the Internet,
practiced documenting that information in Modern Language
Association format, and will have practiced presenting
information in a standard business memo format.
Literature Search
and
Rescue
Loveland Water and Power
Statement of
Connection
“Communicating utility costs to the public using executive summaries
requires technical writing skills” Tracy Hewson, Commercial Accounts
Representative, Loveland Water and Power
Purpose
An executive summary is a form of an abstract. Abstracts are a crucial
communication medium. The purpose of this project is to get students
critically reading and writing abstracts while exposing them to more
information pertinent to their own career area of interest.
What the students will
learn what they will be
able to do upon
completion
See objectives
What students already
know before beginning
the lesson
Students may be aware of an interesting career field, they will know about
some periodicals that regularly publish information pertinent to area of
interest. Student will have some basic ideas about conducting searches
for information in an online database.
At least one way to
assist the students in
learning
Informative resource links will be provided throughout the task.
At least one way to
evaluate the learning
outcomes
See rubric
Literature Search
and
Rescue
Loveland Water and Power
Academic behavioral
learning objective
There are two audiences that any type of specialist will deal with. In no
particular order the first audience is made up of their colleagues, the
second audience is made up their clients. A fluent communicator will be
proficient in choosing the appropriate writing format and voice to
communicate with clients as well as colleagues. This project will ask
you to create two different documents one to address each audience.
Review any prerequisite
knowledge that will lead
easily into the new
curriculum.
Collecting information from online databases is a skill that students
should have been exposed to. Students will also have been written
summaries. Students should also be aware of the general format of a
newsletter.
Exact projects, or
activities that will be used
See task outline for project details
Examples
See samples: summary response, literature search, newsletter
The NEW curriculum that
the students exit the
lesson knowing
Students will have learned information to help them pursue their
chosen career, practiced researching using online databases, practiced
verifying information from the Internet, and will have practiced
presenting information using summary responses, abstracts, and
newsletters.
Field
Study
Colorado State University's
Engines & Conversion Laboratory
Statement of
Connection
In the Colorado State University's Engines & Conversion Laboratory, "the
mission of the EECL is to create innovative energy solutions and
entrepreneurial models that benefit the human condition and achieve global
impact. Some of the projects undertaken have significantly improved fuel
efficiency and tailpipe emissions from two-stroke engines”, Roshan Joseph
Purpose
To create solutions field research must be conducted. The purpose of the
Field Study is to simulate a research project from hypothesis to
recommendations.
What the students will
learn what they will
be able to do upon
completion
See objectives
What students
already know before
beginning the lesson
Students have general knowledge of a problem solution paper as a frame of
reference. Most have taken part in a survey. Most have experience with MS
PowerPoint.
At least one way to
assist the students in
learning
Resource links and various templates, Viewlet ©, and student aide will be
made available to lead students through parts of the task that are unfamiliar
to them
At least one way to
evaluate the learning
outcomes
See rubric
Field
Study
Colorado State University's
Engines & Conversion Laboratory
Academic behavioral learning
objective
Field Research in some form is present in all job sectors. This
project allows students to generate a hypothesis and
questions to test that hypothesis with traditional write-up
format; to collect data and analyze that data using MS Excel
pivot table and chart; to communicate both visually and orally
original conclusions and recommendations to an audience of
your peers using MS PowerPoint
Review any prerequisite knowledge
that will lead easily into the new
curriculum.
Students will need to understand the concept of making an
educated guess and what factors can be studied to test that
guess. Students should understand how presenting
information in tabular form makes that information easier to
digest.
Exact projects, or activities that will
be used
See task outline for project details
Examples
See student sample of write-up
The NEW curriculum that the
students exit the lesson knowing
Student will leave this task with more practice searching for
information pertinent to their area of specialization, more
practice documenting that information, practice using MS
Excel to analyze data, and practice orally presenting their
information to their peers.
Proposal
Task
Larimer Center
for Mental Health
Statement of
Connection
"You could make a career of finding funding for health services”, Emily
Dawson-Peterson, Larimer Center for Mental Health.
Purpose
In an ever increasingly competitive economy at some point it is very likely
that students will find themselves in need of funding. Requests for
Proposals or Information for Bids are a valid and underexposed source of
income to students. In this project students learn about RFP / IFB, where
to find them, how to respond to them and ultimately when, and how they
might create an RFP themselves.
What the students will
learn what they will be
able to do upon
completion
See objectives
What students already
know before beginning
the lesson
Students have heard of scholarships which are a form of a request for
proposal from that frame of references I can build an understanding of
what an RFP is.
At least one way to
assist the students in
learning
Informative resource links will be provided.
At least one way to
evaluate the learning
outcomes
See rubric
Proposal
Task
Larimer Center
for Mental Health
Academic behavioral learning
objective
Students are going to search for a pertinent RFP or IFB for
their area of specialization; to build a proposal; and to create
an RFP for the recommendations that were developed as a
result of our own Field Study.
Review any prerequisite knowledge
that will lead easily into the new
curriculum.
Students will need to be able to conduct an internet search.
Exact projects, or activities that will
be used
See task outline for project details
Examples
See student sample
The NEW curriculum that the
students exit the lesson knowing
Students will be aware of a possible income stream and the
way to channel it through proper writing techniques.
Descriptive Owner's
Manual
Lightning Hybrids
Statement of Connection
Lightning Hybrids will concentrate on the design of retrofit kits and then
certify fleet operators to install and maintain the product, Samuel Johnson
Lightning Hybrids
Purpose
Communicating the proper way to use products and services to your
customers is essential. The purpose of this project is to introduce students to
the essential parts of this document and give students an additional
opportunity to learn about a different aspect of their career area of interest.
What the students will
learn what they will be
able to do upon
completion
See objectives
What students already
know before beginning the
lesson
Students will have a working knowledge of the item they chose to focus on
for the task.
At least one way to assist
the students in learning
Informative resource links will be provided and a freeware application Lego
Block CAD will be provided to create the visualizations for the owner's
manual portion of this project.
At least one way to
evaluate the learning
outcomes
See rubric
Descriptive Owner's
Manual
Lightning Hybrids
Academic behavioral learning
objective
Students will research the science behind and proper
maintenance of an item either made or used by someone in
their career area of interest.
Review any prerequisite knowledge
that will lead easily into the new
curriculum.
Students have conducted a close reading a manual during
the Literature Search project.
Exact projects, or activities that will
be used
See task outline for project details
Examples
Refer to Chapters 8 & 10 of Successful Technical Writing by
Bill Wesley Brown
The NEW curriculum that the
students exit the lesson knowing
Students will have some practice creating visualizations and
communicating complex scientific principles and basic
procedures for the care and maintenance of a mechanical
device used or created by someone in their career area of
interest.
Feasibility
Study
Value Plastics
Statement of Connection
"Data is collected and analyzed constantly to improve efficiency
in all processes (not just production, but sales marketing etc.)
Data is also used to drive new product development efforts and
target sales initiatives” John Gibson, Value Plastics.
Purpose
To determine which product or process is most efficient and to
determine the feasibility of a certain decision use similar writing
skills. The Feasibility Project allows students to practice those
writing skills.
What the students will learn, what
they will be able to do upon
completion
Students will be able to distinguish between qualitative and
quantitative variables. Students will be able to define these
variables. Students will be able to construct a comparison
table. Students will be able to communicate conclusions and
make recommendations based on the tabular information that
they present.
What students already know before
beginning the lesson
Students have had practice creating definitions, constructing
tables in Microsoft Word, conducting research, creating
conclusions and recommendations.
At least one way to assist the
students in learning
Informative Resource links will be provided.
At least one way to evaluate the
learning outcomes
See rubric
Feasibility
Study
Value Plastics
Academic behavioral learning
objective
Students will research and create a feasibility report that
includes a glossary, a comparison of quantifiable variables in
tabular form. Students then must communicate their
conclusions and suggested course of action based on their
research.
Review any prerequisite knowledge
that will lead easily into the new
curriculum.
Students have shopped online for items, where they have
used a tabular comparison grid, this experience can serve as
a frame of reference.
Exact projects, or activities that will
be used
See task outline for project details
Examples
See student sample
The NEW curriculum that the
students exit the lesson knowing
Students will leave this task with a greater understanding of
how to communicate the analysis of data and the feasibility of
a certain decision in writing.
Final
Resume
IntegWare
Statement of Connection
"The interview process is lengthy, applicants are asked
behavioral questions 'tell me about a time when . . .', they are
expected to answer in detail”, Todd Gorman, IntegWare.
Purpose
The ability to apply the knowledge of skills, sources, and
information learned during the course of any class to potential
real-life situations is crucial. This task asks students to
articulate those connections.
What the students will learn what
they will be able to do upon
completion
Students will be able to communicate application of skill sets
that they have been practicing during the course and
generate a current resume
What students already know before
beginning the lesson
Students are familiar with the Power Point application.
Students should also be aware of what a resume.
At least one way to assist the
students in learning
Templates will be made available to students for both the
PowerPoint presentation and the resume.
At least one way to evaluate the
learning outcomes
See rubric
Final
Resume
IntegWare
Academic behavioral learning
objective
Using PowerPoint presentations and resumes, students will
articulate practical application for the theoretical practice that
comprised class projects.
Review any prerequisite knowledge
that will lead easily into the new
curriculum.
Students will need to know how to use MS PowerPoint and
MS Word Wizards
Exact projects, or activities that will
be used
See task outline for project details
Examples
Refer to pages 282-289 of Successful Technical Writing by
Bill Wesley Brown
The NEW curriculum that the
students exit the lesson knowing
Students will practice applying classroom practice to realworld scenarios, refined their practice of presentations, and
updated their resume.
Conclusions
Because of new graduation requirements,
English elective courses saw reduced
enrollment numbers at our site.
So few students pre-registered for this
course that it will not be offered at Rocky
Mountain High School in 2010-2011 school
year; although it is obvious from my work
with BETR Project that Technical Reading
and Writing would be beneficial for any
student planning to work in the 21st Century.
My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge.
Hosea 4:6
Resources
"Colorado BETR Project", http://www.betrproject.org/, June 29, 2010.
Dawson-Peterson, Emily and Diane Jesser, "Tour and Question and Answer Session", Larimer Center
for Mental Health, Fort Collins, Colorado, June 14, 2010
Eberle, Steve, Medical Center of the Rockies, Loveland, Colorado, June 15, 2010
Fat Boy Slim. “Right Here, Right Now." August and Everything After. CAROLINE ASTRALWERKS CAT , 2006. MP3.
Fisch, Karl and Scott McLeod, "Did You Know 3.0 Full Video 2008",
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o9nmUB2qls, June 29,2010.
Gibson, John, "Tour", Value Plastics, Fort Collins, Colorado, June, 16, 2010.
Gorman, Todd and Kellie Stapleton, "Tuesday Tour", IntegWare, Fort Collins, Colorado, June 16, 2010
Johnson, "Tour", Lightning Hybrids, Loveland, Colorado, June 17, 2010
Joseph, Roshan, "Tour" Colorado State University Small Engines Lab, Fort Collins, Colorado, June 15,
2010
Mullnix, Ralph et al, "Tour", Loveland Water and Power, Loveland, Colorado June 17, 2010