CBIA Extern Program

1. Role Reversal: ConnecticutTeachersBecome Studentsin SummerExternshipProgram
Nine state highschool andcollege educatorshave tradedinpencilsforlaserengraversandfabrication
toolsworkinginadvancedmanufacturingfacilities.
The teacherexternshipprogramimmersesinstructorsinthe latestindustrypracticesandtechnologies
so that inthe fall,theycan passalongnew ideasandinformationtostudents.
“A recentGalluppoll highlightedthe brokenlinkbetweeneducationandwork,with96% of chief
academicofficersbelievingtheirinstitutioniseffective atpreparingstudentsforthe worldof workand
only11% of businessleadersagreeingthatgraduateshave the skillstheirbusinessesneed,”saysAndrea
Comer,executive director,EWP.
“By exposingeducatorstothe workplace,teacherexternshipsare utilizinganinnovativeapproachto
close that gap.”
Each teacherspends160 hours ina manufacturingfacilitybefore implementingawork-basedlearning
projectfortheirstudentsbasedonthe externshipexperience.Work-basedprojectsgivestudentsa
more realisticunderstandingof howclassroomlearningisappliedonthe job.
The CBIA Education& Workforce Partnership(EWP) administersthe programonbehalf of the College of
Technology’sRegional CenterforNextGenerationManufacturing(COT-RGNGM),aNational Science
FoundationCenterof Excellence.