This document outlines a presentation about a project-based internship program that aims to help students attain 21st century skills. The program matches students with internship sites based on their career interests and strengths. Students complete a 1-unit internship course involving 45 hours at their site working on a project with guidance from a supervisor, along with 9 hours of in-class instruction on 21st century skills like communication, empathy, and critical thinking. Examples of lessons include analyzing tone, avoiding passive-aggressive communication, and conducting effective self-evaluations. The program has placed over 140 students across various industry sectors. The presentation concludes with information on the program's evolution and a call for partnerships.

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Learning by Doing: 21st Century Skills Attainment
through Project-Based Internships
CCCAOE, Palm Springs, CA
October 24, 2013
Amy Schulz, Director, CTE/EWD
Rajinder Gill, Director, Internship Program
Feather River College

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Learning Objectives:
After today’s presentation, participants will:

Be empowered to start or enhance internships/experiential
learning opportunities on their own campuses

Obtain a 21st Century Skills lesson to share with educators at
home

Make meaningful connections with other attendees and the
presenters

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Presentation Outline

Background of the program

Methodology

21st Century Skills

Success Stories (Video)

Passive Aggressive
Communication Lesson

Conclusion

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Background

2011: CTE Transitions leveraged with
existing project-based learning course

Leveraging limited resources

Take inventory of student career interests

Match students with site supervisors in
project-based internships

Integrate 21st Century Skills lesson
concurrently with internships

Over 140 students placed in 6 terms

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Connecting Students to Supervisors

Inventory of students’ career
interests & strengths

Industry Partnerships

Guided by industry sectors and
opportunities within our own
community

Meet students where they are

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Project-Based

Originated in BUS 171: Projectbased Learning with SIFE

1-unit lab course,



45 hours in the field with
supervisor
project with a
beginning, middle & end
9 hours in class for 21st Century
Skills instruction

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21st Century Skills Instruction
Results from Entrepreneurship Skills Panels

Self-Awareness

Communication Skills

Social/Diversity Awareness

Collaboration

Resilience

Digital Literacy

Empathy

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Adaptability

Analysis/Solution Mindset

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Self-Awareness

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Empathy

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Communication

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FRC Internship Interviews

12. BUS 171 Internships
Lesson Review

13. 21st Century Skills:
Critical Thinking & Professionalism
Critical Thinking
Professionalism
 How to “read” yourself
and others:
 What to do and what to
avoid:
 Self-assessment of your soft
skills (feedback from site
supervisors to follow)
 Using the correct language
to talk about
race/ethnicity, biological
sex/gender
 Non-verbal communication
 Avoiding common spoken
and written grammar
mistakes

14. Professional Evaluations
Tone and Passive Aggressive Communication

15. Definition: Tone
Tone is the attitude of the speaker and it creates a particular
impression or mood. The tone can be different than the actual
words a person uses, so again you have to be a good “reader” of
others and yourself.
Words to describe “tone”:
formal, informal, serious, playful, ironic, angry, egotistical, upbea
t, whiny, etc.

16. Analyzing Tone
Flobots: Handlebars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waRtcBy_GMI

17. Passive Aggressive
Communication
How to identify and avoid it!

18. Definition: P-A Communication
Passive aggressive communication is used to express
anger, frustration, stress, or unsettled feelings INDIRECTLY so the
speaker does not have to take responsibility for those feelings but can
deflect them on others.
Paying attention to a person’s tone and non verbal communication can
help identify passive aggressive behavior (or help notice it in
yourself).
Major types of P-A Communication: Denial, Blaming, Revenge
Seeking, Controlling, Guilting, Sarcasm, Back Stabbing.

19. Avoiding P-A:
Professional Evaluations
 Use evaluations to develop
your professional skills
 Allows both employer and
employee (or intern) to
communicate equally
 Acknowledge what you
have done well
 Using a script helps reduce
the chance of P-A
communication
 Address what needs to be
improved
 Praise can be given to the
individual, but critiques
should directly relate to
tasks not personal
criticisms

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Evolution of Tracks

Virtual Internships

Apprenticeships for
Business Succession
Planning

Social
Entrepreneurship

Internships

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Please Join our LinkedIn Group:
WOW: New World of Work

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Conclusion
 Student
placements by
sector and skills
 Student
reflection
of 21st
Century Skills
training
 Integration

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Thank you for your time

For more information or partnership opportunities, please
contact:

Amy Schulz, aschulz@frc.edu or (530)283-0202 X358

Rajinder Gill, rgill@frc.edu or (530)283-0202 X265