Beginning April 2000, Applied
Academics will find a new home with the Ministry of Education's
Curriculum Branch. The Career and Applied Programs Unit will
assume the role previously held by the Center for Applied
Academics, and will continue to support all Applied Academics
initiatives. The CFAA was given a four year mandate to champion
the implementation of Applications of Mathematics, Technical
and Professional Communications 12, Applications of Physics
and Information Technology. As their mandate draws to a close,
the CFAA leaves a strong legacy of student successes and applied
learning initiatives. Scott MacDonald will be the Ministry
contact for all Applied courses and can be reached at (250)
356-2339 or www.bced.gov.bc.ca/careers.
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What began as a vision is now well
underway. As the Ministry of Education prepares to take back the torch from the
Center for Applied Academics, the dream of providing a more relevant
curriculum and instruction is well on its way to being fulfilled.
In 1988, the Sullivan Royal Commission on
Education Report emphasized the importance of career development for
secondary students. The report sparked various initiatives aimed at making
school more relevant to the career goals. It was suggested that many
students would learn more if the curriculum was taught in context of real
world problems. From these views arose Applications of Mathematics,
Applications of Physics and Technical, Information Technology and Professional
Communications.
The Center for Applied Academics began in
September, 1996, with a mandate of promoting, supporting and assisting the
development of Applied Academics. The agency was a unique way to bridge the
gap between the Ministry of Education and the educational system, and
was given a limited time to champion Applied Academics during its
infancy.
Since that date, Applied courses
have sprung up across the province. The CFAA's has seen the
growth of grade 11 and 12 course completions climb from 4
in 1995/96 to over 12,000 in 1998/99. Their efforts to reach
articulation agreements with post-secondary institutions have
been very successful, as most BC institutions now accept applied
credits for entry into many of their programs (details at
www.bced.gov.bc/cfaa/artic.htm). Applied Academics graduates
are raving about how these courses have helped prepare them
for the transition to their post secondary goals.
The CFAA can pass the torch back to the
Ministry of Education feeling proud that they have helped to advance an
educational movement that is making a positive difference. Applied Academics is
well on its way to being a commonplace in BC schools and a popular
option for students.
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Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School in 100
Mile House has the distinction of being the first school in BC to offer all
of the Applied Academics courses. They offer AM 10-12 (with a local feeder
school offering AM9), AP 11/12, IT 11/12 and TPC 12.
Burnaby School District is moving to
implement AM 10-12 in all of its schools over the next 4 years. Each grade
level will be piloted in Burnaby South Secondary School.
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