Learning Through Interests Program LTI

Learning Through Interests (LTIs) is one of the core aspects of the MEC Prep curriculum. On LTI days, students spend their time at internships, performing job shadows, conducting interviews with professionals, and/or learning about post-secondary opportunities. After spending the first few weeks in seminars designed to refresh their understanding of professional/business skills, MEC Prep students will seek “Leaving to Learn” experiences that align with their interests. They may ask the internship coordinator for suggestions or use other resources to seek options.

Informational Interviews and Job Shadows

Before setting up an internship, students are encouraged to pursue informational interviews and/or job shadow days with professionals in their career field of interest. This process is particularly effective for students to make connections with potential mentors, but the key to this work is providing students with the opportunity to learn more about new career fields.

Internships

Internships place students in real-world settings with mentors who have expertise in that field. This is an opportunity for students to learn on-the-job from a professional mentor in an authentic setting related to a personal interest. The mentor will connect students’ learning to the real world and act as a role model, resource, and guide. Advisors work closely with internship mentors to ensure that internship experiences are rich and meaningful by managing a set-up meeting and monthly in-person check-ins at each site. Background checks are run on all mentors. We use a program called ImBlaze to find and manage internship experiences, track student attendance, and allow students to keep track of their own pursuits.

Leaving to Learn

“Leaving to Learn” is equivalent to taking field trips. Our school actively provides career and college visits based on student interest. Our Internship Coordinator and staff invite guest speakers to our school with high-interest careers in the fields our students want to learn about. Many opportunities are student-organized and managed.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes support out LTI program. Our staff and students work hard to make and maintain community networks; our programming thrives on constantly growing our connections to new industry partners and innovative internship sites. Through our CTE partners, MEC Prep students have numerous opportunities to learn about various careers and technical programs. Our student-led Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) helps guide the school by focusing on personal development, community service, business and industry connections, financial leadership, social events, and public relations.

Print Lab

Our CTSO manages our in-house screen printing business. This school-based enterprise maintains a waitlist of projects for everything from athletic team needs to specially-designed shirts for professional conferences. Proceeds from the Print Lab fund Learning Through Interest experiences and materials for Independent Projects. Our Student Project Review Panel students volunteer to review other students' requests for funding.

Mapleton Public Schools

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