Intro To The 18 STEAM Career Clusters for CTAE
Pillar Topic:
NEXT Steps Online Training Academy
Cluster Topics:
Skills Self-Assessments, Leadership Boot Camp
Intro To 18 STEAM Career Clusters for Career, Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE)
Table of Contents
Career & Technical Education
Community On Demand™ measures over 27 competencies that determine the employability and market value of a learner’s skillset. Community On Demand™ learning tools help learners demonstrate “cross-cutting” competencies common to most occupations within an industry. These competencies are based on the national curriculum and course standards for employability skills development established by the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Association.
CTE Course Standard #1
CTE Course Standard #1 simply states that learners should be able to demonstrate employability skills required by business and industry. This standard is included in all courses for Career & Technical Education nationwide and requires teachers to incorporate elements of this standard into their lesson plans. Elements of this standard can be addressed with specific lessons from a variety of resources like Community On Demand™ and is advised not to be treated as a unit or separate body of knowledge but rather integrated into class activities as applications of the concept.
- Standard 1.1 Communicate effectively through writing, speaking, listening, reading, and interpersonal abilities.
- Standard 1.2 Demonstrate creativity by asking challenging questions and applying innovative procedures and methods.
- Standard 1.3 Exhibit critical thinking and problem-solving skills to locate, analyze and apply information in career planning and employment situations.
- Standard 1.4 Model work readiness traits required for success in the workplace including integrity, honesty, accountability, punctuality, time management, and respect for diversity.
- Standard 1.5 Apply the appropriate skill sets to be productive in a changing, technological, diverse workplace to be able to work independently and apply teamwork skills
- Standard 1.6 Present a professional image through appearance, behavior and language
Why CTE Works
As a supplement for Career & Technical Education (CTE) Curricula, Community On Demand™ creates fun learning environments and meaningful work-based learning experiences to increase the technical and soft (employability) skills of K-12 youth, young adults, STEAM educators and lifelong learners.
High school students involved in CTE are more engaged, perform better and graduate at higher rates.
- 81 percent of dropouts say relevant, real-world learning opportunities would have kept them in high school.
- The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 93 percent, compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 80 percent.
- More than 75 percent of secondary CTE concentrators pursued postsecondary education shortly after high school.
Postsecondary CTE fosters postsecondary completion and prepares students and adults for in-demand careers.
- 4 out of 5 secondary CTE graduates who pursued postsecondary education after high school had earned a credential or were still enrolled two years later.
- According to research in Texas, Colorado and Virginia, graduates with technical or applied science associate degrees out-earn bachelor’s degree holders by $2,000 to $11,000.
- 27 percent of people with less than an associate degree, including licenses and certificates, earn more than the average bachelor’s degree recipient.
CTE addresses the needs of high-growth industries and helps close the skills gap.
- The skilled trades are the hardest jobs to fill in the United States, with recent data citing 1,019,000 jobs open in the trade, transportation and utilities sector and 315,000 jobs open in manufacturing.
- Health care occupations, many of which require an associate degree or less, make up 12 of the 20 fastest growing occupations.
- STEM occupations such as environmental engineering technicians require an associate degree and will experience faster than average job growth.
- Middle-skill jobs, jobs that require education and training beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree, are a significant part of the economy. Of the 55 million job openings created by 2020, 30 percent will require some college or a two-year associate degree
Investing in CTE yields big returns for state economies.
- In Wisconsin, taxpayers receive $12.20 in benefits for every dollar invested in the technical college system.
- In Washington, for every dollar invested in secondary CTE programs, taxpayers receive a $9 return on investment.
- In Tennessee, CTE returns $2 for every $1 invested. At the secondary level, CTE program completers account for more than $13 million in annual tax revenues.
STEAM Career Clusters
U.S. Career, Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) Career Clusters were established at the national level and are recognizable across the United States in middle schools, high schools, community and technical colleges, and the workforce. A career cluster is a group of jobs and industries that are related by skills or products. Within each cluster, there are cluster “pathways” that correspond to a collection of courses and training opportunities to prepare students for a given career.
The aim of the program is to show students the relevance of what they’re learning in the classroom, whether they want to attend a two-year college, a four-year university or go straight into the world of work. Students will begin to learn about potential careers in elementary and middle school so that they are ready to choose a pathway once they reach high school.
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Pathways
Agribusiness Systems
Animal Systems
Environmental Service Systems
Food Products and Processing Systems
Natural Resources Systems
Plant Systems
Power, Structural and Technical Systems
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Architecture & Construction
Pathways
Construction
Design and Pre-Construction
Maintenance and Operations
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
- Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Arts, Audio/Visual Technologies & Communications
Pathways
A/V Technology & Film
Printing Technology
Visual Arts
Performing Arts
Journalism & Broadcasting
Telecommunications
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Business Management & Administration
Pathways
Administrative Support
Business Information Management
General Management
Human Resources Management
Operations Management
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, diversity and inclusion, labor relations and negotiation, reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, and personnel information systems.
Education & Training
Pathways
Administration and Administrative Support
Professional Support Services
Teaching and Training
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching, and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. This knowledge includes addressing the training needs of individuals with disabilities and groups of one or more individuals with disabilities,
Film, Digital Media & Entertainment
Pathways
Film
Digital Media
Electric Home Entertainment Systems
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media, including multiple methods of access to the information provided.
Finance
Pathways
Accounting
Banking Services
Business Finance
Insurance
Securities and Investments
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data
Government & Public Policy
Pathways
Foreign Service
Governance
National Security
Planning
Public Management and Administration
Regulation
Revenue and Taxation
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions
Green Energy
Pathway
Building-Related Energy Efficiency
Recycling & Pollution Reduction
Environmental Conservation
Green Manufacturing
Renewable Energy Generation
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of alternative sources of renewable energies and how they impact the built environment.
Health Sciences
Pathways
Biotechnology Research and Development
Diagnostic Services
Health Informatics
Support Services
Therapeutic Services
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This knowledge includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental disabilities, and for career counseling and guidance.
Hospitality & Tourism
Pathways
Restaurants & Food/Beverage Services
Lodging
Travel & Tourism
Recreation, Amusements & Attractions
Health, Safety and Environmental Management
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of the information, skills, and abilities needed in five key hospitality sub-sectors: Lodging; Destination Marketing and Management, Tourism and Travel Arrangement; Recreation, Amusements, and Attractions; and Meetings, Events, and Exhibitions Management
Human Services
Pathways
Early Childhood Development & Services
Counseling & Mental Health Services
Family & Community Services
Personal Care Services
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction
- Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Information Technology
Pathways
Information Support and Services
Network Systems
Programming and Software Development
Web and Digital Communication
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
Pathways
Correction Services
Emergency & Fire Management Services
Law Enforcement Services
Security & Protective Services
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process
Manufacturing
Pathways
Production
Manufacturing Production Process Development
Maintenance, Installation & Repair
Quality Assurance
Logistics & Inventory Control
Health, Safety & Environmental Assurance
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Marketing
Pathways
Marketing Management
Professional Sales
Merchandising
Marketing Research
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems
The STEAM Investigative Process
Pathways
Engineering and Technology
Science and Mathematics
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications
- Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes
- Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods
Transportation
Pathways
Transportation Operations
Logistics Planning & Management Services
Warehousing & Distribution Center Operations
Facility & Mobile Equipment Maintenance
Transportation Systems/Infrastructure Planning, Management & Regulation
Health, Safety & Environmental Management
Sales & Service
Knowledge Areas
- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
The Community On Demand™ Game Set
The Community On Demand™ game set serves as the perfect learning tool for CTE. Our colorful card deck provides a skill card for each career cluster and a one-sentence description to quickly introduce the career pathways for each STEAM Career cluster.
The aim of the program is to show students the relevance of what they’re learning in the classroom, whether they want to attend a two-year college, a four-year university or go straight into the world of work. Students will begin to learn about potential careers in elementary and middle school so that they are ready to choose a pathway once they reach high school.
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Knowledge Is Power
Those who know how, will always have a job.
Those who know why, will always be their boss.
Those who know what to do, determine the outcome.
Spring Break 22
- Community On Demand Game Set
- Money Guide for Young Entrepreneurs Activity Workbook & Online Course
- Accelerated Junior Executive Management (JEM) Team Leadership Coaching
- Community On Demand + Nepris Virtual Connections Mentorships
- Micro-Certification in Leadership
- Pitch opportunities to local Investor & Recruitor Networks
