Experiential Learning: Hands-On Opportunities for Real-World Skills
Our Experiential Learning programs provide students with unique opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world settings, explore career paths, and build essential skills for future success. Here’s a quick look at the programs we offer:
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Co-op: Cooperative Education provides an opportunity for students to investigate a possible career choice while developing skills and knowledge in the workplace. The co-operative education program is comprised of a co-operative education course and its related curriculum course. While working at their placements, students will refine, expand, apply and practice curriculum expectations learned during the related course. The cooperative education course may be taken concurrently with the related course or after successful completion of that course. While at the workplace, students are provided with challenging responsibilities and learn by doing. This 3-way partnership between the high school student, the business community, and the school combines classroom instruction with practical "on the job" training.
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Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM):
Student Success is about meeting the individual learning needs of each and every student. Schools are providing students with more opportunities to customize their high school experience and build on their strengths and interests through a variety of new and enhanced learning options. One of those options is the Specialist High Skills Major Program (SHSM). This program allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting their diploma requirements. It enables students to gain sector-specific skills and knowledge in career-related learning environments and helps them focus on graduation and on pursuing their post-secondary goals.
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Dual Credit: Dual credits are college courses, delivered by a college instructor at a college facility. Successful completion of each course results in a credit at the high school as well as a credit at Confederation College. These college credits may be used when students enroll at the college for post-secondary studies.
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Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP): The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a form of Cooperative Education that allows students to earn hours towards their apprenticeship. It is a specialized program offered to Cooperative Education students that enables them to meet diploma requirements while participating in an occupation that requires an apprenticeship. They are also considered to be full-time students and are therefore entitled to all school holidays unless mutually agreed upon by the OYAP sponsor and student. Students working outside school hours must be paid, and the sponsor will be responsible for WSIB. Since students are registered as apprentices when they participate in OYAP, they may be paid at the rate for apprentices as outlined in the Trades Qualifications Apprenticeship Act and/or the Apprenticeship Certification Act. OYAP supports our Specialist High Skills Majors in Construction and Hospitality/Tourism as well as our dual credits in these areas. OYAP is a component of our Student Success efforts.
Each program is designed to inspire, engage, and prepare students for their future, equipping them with valuable skills and experience that will set them apart in today’s job market. Explore the possibilities and discover your pathway through Experiential Learning!