Overview
Exploring Skilled Trades is a new online program developed by SAIT Youth Initiatives, aimed at introducing junior high youth and their teachers to the skilled trades. Funded by the Alberta at Work Apprenticeship Partnerships Program Grant and supported by industry partners, this program was created in collaboration with five local school boards, including a collegiate charter school.
The program features various modules for students and teachers, each with dedicated logins, providing essential knowledge and tools to understand skilled trades, evaluate personal interests and strengths, and navigate clear pathways into skilled trades and apprenticeships. Using the four "A"s of Awareness, Access, Aptitude, and Awesomeness, SAIT Youth Programs partnered with five school authorities—High Prairie School Division, Calgary Board of Education, Calgary Catholic School Division, Palliser Regional School Division, and Fusion Collegiate—to develop the Exploring Skilled Trades program.
This free program for CTF teachers and students across the province introduces students to skilled trades, providing a valuable online resource that can be seamlessly integrated into the classroom to enhance educational experiences.
Exploring Skilled Trades was developed using the tenets of 4 “A”’s:
- Access: Supporting equitable access to learning about the skilled trades; youth from our school board partners will have the chance to benefit from this exciting, free, initiative.
- Awareness: Creating awareness of the skilled trades “early and often” through this program.
- Aptitude: Helping youth understand their own interests and skills and helping them to develop new, valuable skills that can shape their futures.
- Awesomeness: Interactive and hands-on activities designed to keep youth and teachers engaged while learning about the unique aspects of the skilled trades.
Program length
The Exploring Skilled Trades program consists of three modules (approximately 8 hours of content). Students can work through the content at their own pace or the content may be teacher directed.
"Is it the right fit for me?"
This program is for students in grades 7, 8, or 9 or high school students who want an introductory overview to the skilled trades. All content is available online in a virtual format so it is accessible for students in both rural and urban locations.
How to access Exploring Skilled Trades
Access is free for SAIT’s current secondary school board partners. Teachers can sign up with their email address and will receive an access code for their classes. Students need to register using their school email and the access code provided by their teacher.