TIW is a valuable experience for volunteers and teachers alike. Volunteers can host a job shadow for an educator as a Business Partner or serve as a breakout session presenter during the workshop. The job shadow gives people in business and education a chance to learn about each other’s work culture, workplace environments and highlight key skills employees need for success. During TIW breakout sessions, volunteer presenters showcase technology tools, resources, and integration strategies so attendees are equipped to apply them to their own teaching and curriculum.
Business Partners showcase their company by partnering with an educator for a 2-hour job shadow. During the job shadow, volunteers highlight the details of their role, department, and company; discuss projects, products, and services provided; and help their educator understand the environment where their students may work someday. Job shadow hosts can opt to do this in-person or as a virtual experience.
As a Business Partner, you will connect with your educator to help them gain insight on the careers and workplace skills employees are looking for when hiring and how these highly desired skills can be taught to students of all ages. The experience will help your educator draw parallels from their class to your business. Volunteering is a great way to collaborate in preparing the next generation of workers while also gaining leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Innovators from the education and technology fields share their knowledge, expertise, and workplace experience with attendees through group presentations and breakout sessions. BestPrep is encouraging new presentation topics that address the current trends in education. Attendees use the information learned to develop curriculum that effectively integrates technology, increases student engagement, and connects to real-world applications.
“My business partner was incredibly helpful with providing perspective about what students need in order to be successful in today’s workplace.”
~ Sarah Hoverson, Creative Arts Secondary School, St. Paul
“There were so many amazing ideas in this breakout session; I am looking forward to trying a few new ones this year!”
~Cassandra Korzendorfer, Rockford Middle School
“It was an amazing experience. We had a very candid discussion about education, corporate jobs, important skills for new workers to have, and the direction where technology careers are moving.”
~ Angie Swenson, Luverne High School
2023 Impact Numbers
The Technology Integration Workshop makes an impact annually on the students in the program.
11.5K
STUDENTS
35
SCHOOLS
87
VOLUNTEERS
61
EDUCATORS