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The Corporation Learning Way corporationlearning@comcast.net Frequently Asked Questions What is Corporation Physics?Why was Corporation Learning created?Can Corporation Learning be used with all ability levels?How does Corporation Learning work?Where did the idea of Corporation Learning originate?How does the Corporation Learning process work?How does a student join a team?What does a typical class look like?What do you mean that the students present the material?Won't most students simply read from notes?What else do the teams do?Do students take traditional quizzes and tests?Does the teacher always test on the material that is presented?What about student performance compared to a traditional approach?Is faculty training available for this process?Can the process be used in other disciplines?
What is Corporation Learning?Corporation Learning is a pedagogy that incorporates workplace readiness skills such as career planning, use of technology, critical thinking, self-management and safety into the core curriculum content standards. Students are empowered to take on responsibility and leadership roles. Students are taught how to work on teams. They learn technology and how to use the computer to do presentations. They learn how to stand up in front of an audience and deliver a lesson without typical teenage jargon, like, you know what I mean, OK. CL is a student-centered process that gives students the workplace readiness skills that they will need to enter the workforce of the 21st Century upon completing their formal education. It is a process that teaches students how to be life-long learners and provides students with entry-level tools that are essential in business such as the ability to communicate their ideas using technology and manage their time.What is Corporation Physics?Corporation Physics is a high school physics course that uses the Corporation Learning pedagogy. Other disciplines using the Corporation Learning pedagogy include English (Corporation English), Earth Science and Biology.Why was Corporation Learning created?Originally, CL was created to address the needs of the unmotivated, under-achieving student. Traditionally students who elected to take a course such as Physics did so because they had the interest and ability to pursue such a program. While there are some students who elected the course because of their ability and interest, many are simply put into the course because it looks good on their transcript or they took the course to be in a class with their friends.Can Corporation Learning be used with all ability levels?The Corporation Learning method has been used in many disciplines with students of various ability levels, from under achievers to gifted and talented. The Corporation Learning process works equally well with all ability levels.How does Corporation Learning work?CL is a process that replaces the traditional "I lecture -- you listen" method of instruction. It is a process that is modeled after successful business practices such as teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving, self-management, responsibility and empowerment. Students in CL learn the required core curriculum content and in addition to learning the traditional 3 R’s of reading, writing and arithmetic, learn the 3 R’s of the 21st Century: Rigor, Responsibility and Relevance. Students learn successful business techniques and then apply them to the classroom environment.Where did the idea of Corporation Learning originate?Corporation Learning was born about five years ago. In the early nineties, corporations were reengineering and restructuring to maximize the skills and talents of their employees. Words such as "client-server" and "empowerment" were heard in the corridors of these corporations. Books were written about this reengineering. The book, Reengineering the Corporation by Hammer and Champy, became the guideline for reengineering the classroom from the "I lecture -- you listen" traditional classroom, to a classroom that is run like a corporation.How does the Corporation Learning process work?The instructor will present the lesson for three or four days. The students will have time to prepare a presentation of the material presented. Working in specialized teams, students will present the material to the class. Because Physics has many components such as theory, mathematics, laboratory investigations and use of technology, students apply to be on teams that focus on these areas. Once selected for a particular team, the students on that team are responsible for presenting that component of physics to the class approximately once every two weeks. These teams, known as the Quality Team, the Quantity Team, the Lab Team and the WITS (Web, Information, Technology and Speakers Bureau) Team are a few of the teams used in Corporation Physics.How does a student join a team?Students must submit an application, cover letter and resume to join a team. They're taught how to prepare a cover letter and resume and are told what characteristics they should have and what they should bring to the team before applying.What does a typical class look like?Imagine a science class with a 14 period two-week schedule. In a traditional class, the instructor might lecture for five periods during the week and have a double period lab. In CL, the instructor presents for the first four periods. The fifth period is a planning period. From period 6 through 12, the students are presenting.What do you mean that the students present the material?The core curriculum content material is taught at a rigorous, rapid pace by the instructor. The instructor's presentation is an introduction to the material. After the instructor's presentation, specialized teams will embellish the instructor's presentation. Each team will use computer technology in the presentation, prepare a handout of notes about the presentation and prepare a worksheet for the students in the class to complete. The name and objective of each team is left up to the imagination and creativity of the instructor. Of course, the names and the purposes of each team should be appropriate to the subject area.Won't most students simply read from notes?While students make use of the Internet for research and gathering "real-time" data, they are not allowed to simply read their notes. They must prepare a computer presentation (Microsoft® PowerPoint, etc.) and they may refer to their notes on a large-screen TV connected to the computer. A rubric is used to grade each presentation.What else do the teams do in addition to embellishing the instructor's notes?Each team must make a PowerPoint presentation. They must distribute notes of their slides to each student in class. They must also make up a worksheet or some other activity for the class to do that the presenting team will grade and record the grades. With seven teams presenting this provides seven rigorous homework assignments in a two-week period. Students must also publish a company newsletter, design and publish a web page and be ambassadors for the Corporation Learning process by giving lectures and presentations to the community and school districts.Do students take traditional quizzes and tests?Teams are responsible for making up worksheets and assigning and correcting them. This results in more assignments and grades.Does the teacher always test on the material that is presented?After all the teams present, a team known as the F.I.N.A.L. (Failure Is Non-Acceptable Language) Team gives a rigorous written test. This test precedes the instructor's test. The following day the instructor will test the students. Various methods of assessment are used: individual tests, group tests, laboratory tests, presentations and portfolios.What about student performance compared to a traditional approach?Students are doing as well, if not slightly better than their counterparts in a traditional setting. However, they are learning presentation skills, learning how to work in teams and learning workplace readiness skills.Is faculty training available for this process?In many states, teachers are required to obtain Continuing Education Units. Many schools are implementing block scheduling into the curriculum. Corporation Learning is a very valuable tool for students and teachers in block scheduling. Faculty training is provided upon request.Can the process be used in other disciplines?Absolutely. In addition to Physics, it is being used in Earth Science and Biology. Other high schools are using the process in English and Social Science as well. The Corporation Learning process is successful with gifted and talented students and under-achieving students. Using some imagination and creativity, most teachers can easily adapt the Corporation Learning process to their classroom.Corporation Learning
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