Campus News

Minnesota West Hosts Training Workshop Lead by Minnesota Centers for Excellence

8/20/20

Minnesota West Hosts Training Workshop Lead by Minnesota Centers for Excellence

Minnesota West Community & Technical College hosts three-day Train-the-Trainer workshops by the Minnesota Centers for Excellence, designed specifically to engage and train area Ag and Tech-ed teachers. Over the course of these three days, area teachers have received hands on training to teach secondary students in the areas of small gas engines, welding, and energy. Teachers participating in the workshops have gained additional experience in lab settings, and will be prepared to bring a variety of skills and materials back to their classrooms this fall.

Beyond the training provided by Minnesota West field experts and instructors, participants will take away many ideas and other assets to utilize in their classrooms. The teachers participating will bring back a variety of tools for their classrooms including, a small gas engine, safety glasses, energy lessons with lab kits and the option of using the energy trailer for one week at their school, and ongoing contact with trainers to use as resources while prepping for their fall classes. These workshops are one of the many ways Minnesota West works with area resources to develop and help enhance the education of area students.

Paul Lanoue, Dean of Agriculture and Business, commented, “Our high school agricultural and technical education instructors are a critical drivers for students making decisions impacting future career pathways. Through this training, instructors from across the state will be able to directly walk a pathway for higher education in the trades fields. Participants in the training have commented that they appreciate knowing what we in the technical college world for an entering student so that they can better prepare our future workforce at the high school level.

It's been exciting to see the networking that is occurring between the high school instructors as they share tips and techniques for their classrooms especially with the uncertainty of distance learning in career and technical education.”

Rose Patzer, Interim Executive Director, Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence, stated, “This has been a fantastic learning experience for both our faculty and high school teachers. Twenty-five agricultural and technical education high school teachers spent 3 days expanding their knowledge and classroom experience in automotive, energy and welding. The teachers are engaged, exchanging dialogue, and networking while practicing social distance protocols. Their take-aways from the workshop include lab kits, a small engine, curriculum, as well as program promotional materials and knowledge of the various resources that the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence provide.”

For more information, contact us at www.mnwest.edu or 800-658-2330.