2009 Institute for Staff Development Students Today, Leaders Tomorrow

1. Project Reality Based Learning A Full Curricular Approach 2009 Institute for Staff DevelopmentStudents Today, Leaders Tomorrow

2. Project Reality Based Learning A Full Curricular Approach 2009 Institute for Staff DevelopmentStudents Today, Leaders Tomorrow

3. Presentation Outline • School Demographics / Presentation Overview • LHS-AOF Curriculum and Graduation requirements • LHS Student Projects • PBL Development • Project Focus 1: Classroom Project • The Mock Interview Project • Project Focus 2: Beyond the Classroom • Foundations of Financial Literacy • Project Focus 3: Project Management • Senior Credit Card Seminar • Successes, Challenges and Obstacles • Open discussion

4. Lancaster High School is in a suburb of Buffalo Academy of Finance

5. Winter in Buffalo Perception

6. Winter in Buffalo Reality

7. SUMMER in Buffalo Perception

8. SUMMER in Buffalo Reality

9. Buffalo is nearby NYC Perception

10. Buffalo is closer to Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Reality 118 miles 273 miles 197 miles 378 miles 224 miles 376 miles

11. Presenters Amanda Fleck – Class of 2010 Laurie Plewinski – Class of 2010 Scott Dixon – Academy Director Kathleen Wilson – Academy Teacher Stephen Pease – KeyBank, Advisory Board

12. Demographics • Comprehensive High School • 2100 students (2nd largest HS in WNY) • 94% graduation rate • 89% of graduates pursue higher education • 11 AP Courses • Average SAT Score 1035 • Fifth year Academy of Finance

13. LHS-AOF Organization • 3 Year Curriculum • Each year has 2 cohorts of 20 students • 120 students(6% of student body) • Organized as a “club” • Fundraising • Student Leadership • Club activities (i.e. School Dance, etc.)

14. LHS-AOFRequirements

15. Graduation Requirements Lancaster High School Academy of Finance

16. LHS-AOF Curriculum Paid Internship * Honors weight / 3rd Math credit ** Economics credit *** English credit College Course RED = NEW NAF CURRICULUM

17. Project Based Learning is difficult Perception

18. Projects come in many shapes and sizes and make learning enjoyable. Reality

19. Project Requirements Lancaster High School Academy of Finance

20. Sophomore PBL Requirements CLASSROOM BEYOND CLASSROOM Student chooses one Fall DECA Must compete at regional level Spring Foundations of Financial Literacy Must teach 1 hour • Office 2007 • MOS Certification • Success Strategies • Mock Interview • Principles of Finance • Junior Achievement – NEFE • Banking & Credit (Fin Svcs) • www.Moneyskill.org • Lancaster Life - Budgeting

21. Junior PBL Requirements CLASSROOM BEYOND CLASSROOM All Students choose one DECA Financial Literacy MoneySkill Mania College Level Course Student Bank Teller AOF Officers Officer Duty Student Proposed Project • AOF: Accounting • VITA (Volunteer Tax Prep) • Principles of Leadership • Project Management • CEIP (Career Exploration) • Unpaid Internship (54 hours) • Summer Internship • PAID Internship (130 hours)

22. Senior PBL Requirements CLASSROOM BEYOND CLASSROOM All Students choose one • DECA • Financial Literacy • MoneySkill Mania • College Level Course • Student Bank Teller AOF Officers • Officer Duty • Student Proposed Project • AOF: English (AP available) • Portfolio & Financial Journalism • Financial Planning • “As your financial planner…” • AOF: Economics (AP available) • The Stock Market Game • ELECTIVE • Entrepreneurship & Ethics • Leadership in Action • CEIP (3RD Internship) • Advanced Accounting

23. AOF Officers / Project Managers DUTIES PROJECT (CLUB) MANAGEMENT • Internship Mentor Appreciation and Networking Luncheon • AOF Recruitment • Financial Services Field Trip • Winter Ball (Dance) • Pizza & Car Wash Fundraisers • Regional College Site Tours • Guest Speaker Series and workshops • AOF Graduate recognition • Social Events • Banking mini-lessons • President • Vice President • Secretary • Treasurer • Fundraising Officer • Special Events Officer • College and Scholarship Officer • Historian • Bank Manager

24. Project Development How we create a project

25. Reality Based Learning Development Real Problem exists in our community Exploration of solutions required Applies classroom lessons Leadership opportunity for students Includes advisory board/partner review Thorough use of career knowledge and skill Yearly sustainability

26. Project Types • Classroom Project • Directly links to existing curriculum • Developed from an existing project • NAF Curriculum, NAF Collaboration Network • WNY Consortium of NAF Academies • College Partners & Local Organizations • Beyond the Classroom • Projects that develop directly from a community need/issue • Indirectly links curriculum OR integrates curriculum • Project Management (Officers) • Projects that develop leadership skills and benefit the organization

27. Classroom Project Example The Mock Interview Project

28. The Mock Interview Project • Developed from an existing project • Expansion of ideas generated from: • NAF Collaboration Network / WNY Consortium of NAF Academies / Local College Partner

29. The Mock Interview Project • Directly links to existing curriculum • Success Strategies (Grade 10) • Professionalism / Appearance / Communication Styles • Questioning Strategies • Microsoft Office 2007 (Grade 10) • Resume, Cover Letter and Thank-you Letter Writing • Company Research • Portfolio creation • Career Exploration Internship Program (Grade 11) • Resume revisions • Internship interview • Portfolio development

30. The Mock Interview Development Problem • Students are unable to successfully connect with internship providers because they lack the soft skills necessary to communicate in a professional environment Objectives and Outcomes • Students will prepare for a professional interview through the development of a resume, cover letter, professional attire selection, portfolio creation, question answering strategies, non-verbal and verbal communications in a competitive mock interview.

31. The Mock Interview Development Target Audience • Primary Target = Sophomores & Juniors Secondary Target = Advisory Board Recruitment Advisory Board Support • Advisory board members act as guest lecturers, interview coaches and interview assessors. Yearly Sustainability • Students, teachers and advisory board members critique the entire process with a formal reflection

32. Beyond the Classroom Example Foundations of Financial Literacy

33. Foundations of Financial Literacy • Beyond the Classroom • Develop directly from a community need/issue • Saving Rates are at an all-time low • Debt is at an all-time high • Lancaster Community has requested increased literacy across the curriculum, including financial literacy • Indirectly links curriculum OR integrates curriculum • Students draw upon AOF classes, DECA events, English classes and other sources to deliver instruction to Grade 2 students.

34. Foundations of Financial Literacy BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

35. Foundations of Financial Literacy Target Audience • Primary Target = Grade 2 students throughout the Lancaster School District (5 elementary schools) • Secondary Target = Grade 10, 11 AOF students • Possible Target = Parents of grade 2 students Advisory Board Support • The Lancaster-Depew FCU assists in curriculum development, purchase of the Moon-jars. The LCSD provides additional funding Yearly Sustainability • Students, teachers and advisory board members critique the entire process with a formal reflection

36. Project ManagementStudent Proposed SENIOR CREDIT CARD SEMINAR

37. Senior Credit Card Seminar • Project Management • Projects that develop leadership skills and benefits the entire AOF or LHS student body

38. Senior Credit Card Seminar Problem: Too many people, especially students entering college, fall into the trap of credit card debt because they fail to understand the policies and responsibilities of managing a credit card.

39. Senior Credit Card Seminar Objective/Outcomes: To educate college bound students on the importance of understanding credit terms, proper budgeting and maintaining good credit. Conduct five 30-minute seminars in Fall 2009 to senior level English and business classes. Use the pre/post surveys and seminar content to create a DECA competition manual.

40. Senior Credit Card Seminar Target Audience: Graduating Seniors at Lancaster High School

41. Senior Credit Card Seminar Advisory Board/Business Partner Support: • KeyBank • Provide materials and instruction • Lancaster-Depew Federal Credit Union • Provide marketing support for seminars • University at Buffalo: School of Management • Provide information and statistics on student credit use

42. Senior Credit Card Seminar Yearly Sustainability: Include the seminar with VITA (tax program) Expand the seminar to multiple schools in Western New York, starting with the WNY Consortium of NAF Academies. Update the presentation to include new credit card legislation. Prepare new instructors for subsequent school year

43. SuccessesChallengesObstacles

44. How to reach us www.lancasterschools.org/finance • Mr. Scott Dixon / Academy Director • sdixon@lancaster.wnyric.org • Mrs. Kathleen Wilson / Academy Teacher • kwilson@lancaster.wnyric.org • Mr. Stephen Pease / KeyBank • Stephen_J_Pease@KeyBank.com