CURRICULUM

The desired result of the CCC curriculum initiative is the implementation of an industry standards-based curriculum sequence that builds a pathway to math, science and technology (MST) related careers for students from middle/high school to post-secondary education (both community and four-year colleges). The CCC curriculum sequence builds on a foundation of employability and technical competencies that all students can use as the basis for acquiring more advanced technical skills or the transferring of their skills to any 21st century technology or emerging career.

The National Workforce Center for Emerging Technology (NWCET) has developed a pyramid of competencies that depicts the skills developed in a sequence and reflects the progression of concepts employed in the NWCET skill standards.

Most IT skill standards-based curriculum development efforts in secondary schools have attempted to address the NWCET pyramid of competencies by implementing courses that address the three tiers. Tier I and II competencies are often addressed in introductory or preparatory courses in grades nine and ten. Tier III competencies are categorized by the eight career clusters* and are often addressed by implementing corresponding industry specific certification courses such as the A+ program, Cisco Network Academy or the Oracle Internet Academy. This type of course organization has many shortcomings with most students getting minimal exposure to foundation skills in the introductory Tiers 1 and II and an over emphasis of the Tier III technical skills. Many schools find students in Tier III courses without the appropriate preparation or motivational interest needed to complete these rigorous courses of study. While some students may succeed in Tier III courses, the majority of students in these courses are not prepared to successfully complete industry certification exams.

In addition, this overemphasis on one technical cluster results in students being locked into a narrowly focused path where transferability of skills is never realized.

The CCC curriculum strategy builds on the NWCET pyramid of competencies and addresses the shortcomings identified above. In the CCC Curriculum Pyramid more emphasis is placed on Tier I and Tier II courses where students will develop and practice a variety of employability, foundation and transferable skills. The result should be that those students who do proceed into Tier III courses will be better prepared to complete those courses of study and will have a repertoire of skills that prepares them for success in any 21st century career. The CCC curriculum initiative is currently involved in adopting, developing and implementing course sequences in both Information Technology and Health and Medical Careers. For more detailed information about the IT & HMC curriculum including course descriptions and sequences is provided in the CCC IT & HMC curriculum sections.