School-Business Partnerships

In many ways, schools and businesses can work together in educational partnerships. Businesses offer schools resources to assist in teaching complex concepts, expertise in carrying out projects, guest speakers who can serve as positive role models, and connections to the world of work.

Two of the best known programs, Tech Prep and Junior Achievement, provide applications-based, hands-on training which emphasizes the ability to work in teams and critical thinking. By building school-business partnerships, school resources are expanded to include the community. It also gives students a powerful message: many of the skills they learn in school are vital to success once they finish school.

The Community Learning Program (CLP) in Florissant, Missouri is a school-business partnership which gives students a chance to pursue a career they are interested in -- while still seniors. Through the CLP, students enroll in a one-semester program and are matched with area organizations or businesses. Participants commit to a three-class period of time, four days a week and are not paid, but do receive school credit. CLP students explore fields as diverse as TV and radio production, auto body repair, and X-ray technology.

The experience is extremely rewarding for most students, and they say it helps them in making career and educational decisions. Program co-director John Reidy says after the program, students tell him they have "a better understanding of the field and more confidence." It also gives teachers who work with CLP a great sense of satisfaction.

Jim Reidy, McClure North High School, 705 Waterford, Florissant, MO, 63033.

This document was last updated 6/29/97 by Chandra Hawley.
Copyright1996 Indiana University - Center for Adolescent Studies, all rights reserved.
Kris Bosworth or the students' future." Teachers can help students' to hone their research skills by unleashing the enormous potential of the Internet.

By gaining access to the Internet, teachers and students can also: use retrieval systems like "Gopher" to find information for research projects; browse through the Library of Congress card catalog; send electronic mail to colleagues around the globe; read and post notices or lesson plans on electronic bulletin boards (Several Teacher Talk lessons have come from these); or subscribe to any of hundreds of newsgroups, which are like topical newspapers read on the computer screen. Newsgroups cover a broad range of topics including Distance Education, Autism, Ethics, or Politics.

To link up to the Internet, you need a computer, a modem, and a telephone line. Next, you will need access to an institution or agency that is linked to the Internet. Most colleges and universities are linked, as are most state's Departments of Education. To learn more, contact the technology coordinator at your school or call the Department of Education in your state. We look forward to meeting you and your students in cyberspace!

With so many services, how does one gain access to this valuable resource? Universities and corporations can sometimes provide access for nearby public schools. Several online computer services provide limited access, but offer additional services available only to subscribers. Only a few road maps are available for the "information superhighway." Therefore, you are encouraged to explore and to ask directions. Remember, though, even if you get lost, you will never be far from home. Most state departments of education have a consultant well traveled in "cyberspace."

Additional Reading:

Online Computer Services

(involve user fees):

Access Providers:

For additional information about access providers, call InterNIC Information Services at 1-800-444-4345.

This document was last updated 6/29/97 by Chandra Hawley.
Copyright1996 Indiana University - Center for Adolescent Studies, all rights reserved.
Kris Bosworth ÿ<8ÒXç€Hx nVÞ` ¢×Çø™bøsEÁ‚º\vµ,ƒTtˆ›N/|ˆö§}uç—ÐÇ;Vã Ñ„pÉùR