Program winners
were selected for meeting the following four criteria:
1. Demonstrating
an innovative approach, new thinking, or refreshing a traditional
approach to occupational education or economic development.
2. Demonstrating
initiative and leadership and/or promoting collaborative efforts
among disciplines in the public or private sectors.
3. Distinguishing
faculty as individuals or distinguishing the program in terms of
growth, development and improvement of occupational education and
economic development.
4.
Demonstrating
significant outcomes and results toward the mission of CCCAOE.
|
The
following article by Eileen Kraskouskas is reprinted from the California
Community College Association for Occupational Education (CCAOE)
newsletter, Spring Edition 2002.
On March
7, 2002, at the Spring Conference at Tenaya Lodge, CCAOE announced
the winners of its annual Outstanding Performance Awards
in four categories:
- Outstanding
Faculty
- Outstanding
Program
- Excellence
in Leadership
- Excellence
in Partnership.
Nominations
for these awards were solicited through a statewide call.
Palomar
College Cabinet and Furniture Technology (CFT) Program was selected
as Outstanding Program. At its inception, twenty-five years
ago, Palomar's CFT Program had one faculty member with two classes-beginning
and advanced woodshop-and 12 students. The program now has 5 full-time
and 15 part-time faculty. This year approximately 2000 students
will choose from classes like Classic American Chair Design, Cabinetmaking/
Architectural Millwork, Computer Cabinet Layout, Wood Bending and
Lamination and Advanced Carving.
Wilma Owens,
Interim Dean of Vocational Technology at Palomar, painted a compelling
picture of this winning program led by Steve Kirby who is largely
responsible for building the program from two classes to its current
offerings.
She described
project-based instruction as follows: When submitting a furniture
project for approval, students must thoroughly research designs,
styles, periods of history and tools used in the production of their
project. Proposals are discussed in class, enhancing critical thinking,
research, writing and computational abilities, initiative and problem
solving along the way. Faculty members work with students as a team,
each bringing a unique, personal talent and skill to fill in gaps
and to strengthen the program.
Many of the
classes are taught using a small group facilitation method. For
example, a Jigs and Fixtures class
is task organized into teams to mass-produce a router table for
each class member. Each team has a captain, a quality control person,
an inventory control person, and a treasurer. The students not only
end the class with a valuable piece of equipment, they've learned
and practiced working in teams, consensus building, assessment and
quality control.
Urban Forestry Program
The imaginative
instruction in the classroom is matched by commitment to the community.
The program staff have teamed with the California Division of Forestry
to address the problem of depleting
natural resources. Donated woods from urban environments like parks
and city streets are processed and cut into logs for furniture building.
Before this project, beautiful woods (sycamore, magnolia, jacaranda,
carob, mulberry, elm and others) would have been sent to land fills.
Now, they enjoy a new life as beautiful hand-crafted furniture pieces.
Toy Making Seminar
The faculty
have developed a special seminar to teach the art of wooden toy
making. Last December, students made handcrafted toys and donated
them to more than 400 children through local charities.
Patron Support Program
And finally,
to narrow the gap between state funding and program needs, the CFT
staff have created the CFT Patrons. This
group of industry, community supporters and alumni provide resources
for student scholarships, the publishing of a professional brochure
and schedule, the maintenance of a website and gallery openings.
The industry partners assist with job placement for students and
discounts and/or donations of equipment and supplies.
|