Workshop on Innovations in ICT Education

Beijing, China

Cooperative Education:Practical Considerations

Mark EricksonDirector Co-op and Academic Advising

College of Computer and Information ScienceNortheastern University, Boston, MA, USA

1

Academic Scheduling Issues

Continuous alternating model (3, 4, or 6 month) Maximum coverage for companies Scheduling difficulty

Offer everything twice Summer courses, faculty availability

New programs start with a single pattern

Other models, like Sandwich Course in UK

2

Academic Integration

How best to integrate learning? Different experiences doing different types of

things

Traditional lecture model Group work and project-based assignments Enriches group discussion Reflection facilitates individual learning

3

Complexity of System 2200 employers including HR contacts,

managers, supervisors, mentors Each one a relationship Staff changes and turnover

4300 individual job postings Accurate and up-to-date Managers willing and ready to supervise and

mentor

Maintaining contact during work term Feedback during term, goal setting, student &

employer evaluation4

Information System

Tracking Employer Company, contacts, managers, positions,

descriptions, year and term, assignments

Student information Status, background and goals, co-op pattern,

resume, choices, resume referral, interview status, assignment

Evaluation Student and employer, goal setting, reflection

5

Positions At All Levels

Positions available for the super-stars and for the barely average students.

Positions appropriate for first, second, and third co-ops.

6

Matching Students and Companies

Different ways to set up a match

Algorithmic match

Placement or limited referral

Free market – constrained chaos Best students compete for best positions Best companies compete for best students.

7

Assessment How do you assess learning outside of the

classroom?

Self-reports vs. content evaluation Company privacy and security Staffing Evaluation

8

Questions

9