Teamwork! The teleapprenticeship program in which seniors Sara Callison
and Keri Kraps work reaffirms the values of teamwork.



Next week Sara Callison, a senior at Brimfield High School, will begin working for Caterpillar, Inc. Some of the benefits of her new job are: no commuting and no scheduling conflicts because the job fits into a class period.

Callison is one of six seniors who will be participating in an experimental program which is an alternative to traditional high school vocational work/study programs.

This new program, termed "teleapprenticeship" by its creator, Jim Blane, will allow students to work with Caterpillar, Inc. on problem-solving situations and ask career-oriented questions. All of this will be made possible through use of the Internet. "I think it will have a major impact," Blane said.

"Students will operate from a workstation in the high school's computer laboratories which will include a computer, fax, telephone, laser printer, and a high-speed modem," explained Blane, who is currently working on his doctorate at the University of Illinois. Students will work one period a day, for approximately an hour, and will be paid for their services. Each student will have his or her own e-mail account and will be able to work with a mentor/supervisor at Caterpillar, Inc., he said.
Considering the Option. Senior
Sara Callision works intently on her
assignment from Caterpillar, Inc.

Blane, who teaches all of the business and computer classes at Brimfield High, spent the last two years researching and developing this program. After applying for and receiving a grant of $7,700 from the Illinois State Board of Education, he was able to make his program a reality.

There are three different branches of the teleapprenticeship program, Blane said. Brimfield High will supply the student workers and Caterpillar, Inc. will supply the supervisors. The business department at Illinois State University will then evaluate the program's progress.

Something of this caliber has "never been done before," Blane said. He called the program an exploratory process and said that by the time the grant period is over in August, "We will hopefully have a model program for other schools."
Eagle-Eye. Professor Jim Blane watches
over his students.


The teleapprenticeship presents several benefits over traditional work/study plans. Students at rural high schools, such as Brimfield, will have opportunities to work with companies which otherwise might not be available. Teleapprenticeship will allow students with physical handicaps more choices in work/study programs than they have now. It will also enable students to become familiar with the Internet, a type of technology that is being used more by businesses each day.

Another advantage, Blane added, is that this alternative will also allow students who take college-prep courses more opportunities to develop career skills. Many times these students do not have room in their acedemic schedules to participate in traditional on-site work/study programs. "I've always felt that both vocational and college-prep students need to know something about careers," he said. This program will enable them to do just that.

Keri Kraps, a senior participating in the new program agreed saying, "I feel that if I worked outside of school I wouldn't get the education that I do now."

Blane added that "school-to-work transition programs are a big buzzword in education right now." This way students "learn the same kinds of things, yet learn them in a different environment and gain knowledge of some of the technological trends of the future."





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