Marshfield Wisconsin School District is situated in the north-central part of the state, sort of “up north” and definitely not a district with budgets to rival the more metropolitan areas of Madison or Milwaukee. Yet they are in their third year of exploring assorted health careers in their high school. They definately have a finger on the pulse of the indicators of coming career opportunities and the funding sources which normally bloom around these opportunities.
Reacting to the State of Wisconsin’s concern for overall national health statistics and the growing predictions of aging Americans, increasing our demands on national health providers, Marshfield moved decisively.
To quote Jenni Wilson, Marshfield’s health careers instructor, “...the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development predicts that one of every three new jobs in Wisconsin between 1998 and 2008 will be in health care. Due to limited time and resources at Marshfield High School, many areas of health career exploration were not being covered in Exploring Health Careers. Students did not have an opportunity to explore different avenues and acquire the skills necessary to make a career choice within the health care field.”
Since Marshfield School District implemented their health careers lab, many high schools, looking to do the same, have toured their facility. Jenni’s enthusiasm reflects the reason Marshfield chose to leap into this growing career area. ConCad Technologies installed Applied Technologies Modular Labs, whose “...Health Science Education Series provides students with opportunities to explore concepts and real-world applications relevant to the ever-growing health care field,” again, according to Jenni Wilson.
“There’s nothing like it in any other areas of most high schools...” says Jason Revelle, ConCad Technologies’ marketing manager for Wisconsin. “We certainly see interest from other states, but Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction seem to be ahead of the others on this one. Coupled with established health providers, they’ve gotten the schools excited...and they, in turn, have gone after the grants and other sources to insure their lab’s funding. Many schools are already gearing up to match Marshfield’s Health Science Lab in the number of modules offered to students...everything from Veterinarian Medicine to Forensic Science to Sports Medicine.
Again, Jenni: “Students come to class and are excited about what they are going to be learning that day...they are engaged in the lessons because they can learn at their own pace and they know they are acquiring skills they will utilize in the health care field. Marshfield High School students can continue their education in health careers by enrolling in Medical Terminology (as juniors) and in the Health Career Connections program, (as seniors) which allows students to job shadow many different health care professionals.”
Kasondra Swensen, a junior, participating in the lab, offered: “I like the modules because it gives me an understanding of what certain jobs might be like. Some people go to college more than once, but by using the modules students have a good idea about the health career they are interested in when they start college.”
Jenni Wilson summed it up: “The Applied Technologies Health Science Education Series are a great way for students to explore different health careers and acquire the skills necessary to make a career choice within the health care field. The hands-on activity carts, various methods of assessment, and multimedia presentations require students to be active participants in their learning.”
For additional information about starting Health Careers in your school, contact us for a catalog, personal visit, or to tour one of the existing school’s labs, at some future date.