By Dr. Kathy D’Antoni
The greatest strength of a state is the quality of its work force. The history of West Virginia’s work force and its great work ethic is known across the nation. It is imperative as West Virginia’s economy becomes more diverse that the state’s emerging work force has the skill sets and work ethic to meet the needs of the state’s future.
West Virginia has great schools and great students, and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is working hard to get students ready for their future—whether their goal is to go to college or straight into the work force. This is happening in very unique ways, and one of those is the simulated workplace. This engaging, exciting program provides career and technical students the opportunity to gain not only high-level technical skill sets but the skill sets necessary to be successful, including leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, positive work ethic and the value of quality work. Together with West Virginia businesses and industries, the WVDE is creating a powerful education environment that will maximize our students’ educational experiences through authentic, real-world applications, giving them the right skill sets to be successful, whatever their dreams may be.
In 2013, the simulated workplace began as a pilot project. Today, all traditional career technical programs are transformed into companies. These companies embrace the processes and expectations of businesses/industries while continuing to focus on the technical skill sets needed for future success.
The objectives of the simulated workplace are to:
- Place business/industry processes directly into career technical education (CTE),
- Provide students an understanding of all aspects of an industry and how their performance impacts a company’s bottom line,
- Present curriculum in a relevant and purposeful manner and
- Provide all students the opportunity to experience real-world expectations, earn industry recognized credentials that lead to gainful employment and be college and career ready.
The simulated workplace initiative was created because businesses and industries are reporting that they cannot find drug-free employees who consistently show up for work and perform at a high level. To address the issue, experts sat down with the WVDE to design the simulated workplace. The design includes 12 protocols, including but not limited to random drug testing, professionalism, attendance and safety.
Simulated workplace not only enhances instructional delivery of career education but also creates a more engaged career and technical student. Changing the traditional classroom to a student-led company allows students the opportunity to take ownership of their individual performance as it impacts the overall success of their education while thriving in an authentic workplace culture.
Business and industry plays a major role in the simulated workplace initiative. In addition to the collaboration of the design, West Virginia businesses and industries are part of technical business teams that act as inspectors of the simulated workplace companies. These teams review and rate each company in a manner similar to how health departments rate restaurants. The inspectors review the skill sets being taught in each area, evaluate equipment, interview CTE instructors and students and review the company’s performance data, including attendance, industry credentials earned and safety policies.
The simulated workplace companies that rate high on the inspection receive a business/industry endorsement, which is good for two years. Students who graduate from the recognized company earn an additional certification on their high school diploma. Companies that do not rate high will be provided a plan of improvement by the inspectors and are eligible for an additional inspection after the deficiencies are corrected.
The new initiative has garnered national and international attention. Students are responding positively to the new environment. In a recent student survey, students rated the overall satisfaction of the simulated workplace at 98 percent. One survey response to the question “Do you understand what the simulated workplace is trying to do?” summed up the program’s overall goal: “You are not just preparing us for the next four years; you are preparing us for the next 40 years.”
About the Author
Dr. Kathy D’Antoni is the chief officer of the West Virginia Department of Education’s (WVDE) Division of Career Technical Education. In the past she has served as the assistant state superintendent of schools with the WVDE’s Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, associate state superintendent and vice chancellor of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education. D’Antoni has worked with several curriculum alignment and development projects, including the national and international innovative simulated workplace initiative, and holds doctorate from West Virginia University in higher education administration.
