Education Commons^™

The Experiential-Learning Track: Career Exploration, Student Interest, & Applied Classroom-Learning In Small Rural Junior-Senior High Schools, Michael Turnlund

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

Budgetary constraints can limit academic programs and elective offerings in small rural high schools. It is difficult to staff schools with teachers who hold the required credentials to offer elective courses that match student interests and future career or post-secondary education goals. This article details a strategy used by one small school in Idaho to address the problem. The Experiential-Learning Track Program allows for “hands-on” opportunities tied to learning objectives, and targets career and post-secondary education goals of individual students. Outcomes of the project included an increase in student population numbers and more connections with the local community.