Monroe High School’s LAUNCH program is excited to partner with local organizations to work with our junior and senior students and school community to provide experiences that will inspire and inform students of the authentic challenges that impact local businesses, industries and organizations.
LAUNCH is a program where students explore industries of interest, while solving real world problems using industry standard tools. Students connect, work and are coached by professionals in their professions of choice, while receiving high school and potentially college credit and industry credentials.
At Monroe, we are beginning with two topic areas (known as Strands). Our 2022-2023 Strands include Business Analytics and Media Solutions. Business Analytics students pursue knowledge and develop skills in capturing and analyzing data to inform decision making. Media Solutions students pursue knowledge and develop skills in graphic design, photography, videography, audio, social media, graphic web design and digital. Additional topic area Strands will be added in the future.
We are looking for YOU to participate in our Strands to help students learn through experience. What time commitment can you make to work with our students?
Guest Instructors/Speakers
LAUNCH is seeking professionals who would like to offer a 30-45-minute session on a professional or career topic of interest.
Job Shadow
The time commitment for this type of experience is minimal on the part of the host, but is immeasurable to students as they weigh their post-high school options and select careers. A job shadow host commits to approximately three visits by a student. The student will accompany you as you perform your job to gain experience and see what it is like to perform a certain type of work.
Skill Mentor
Professionals who would like to offer approximately one hour per week for 8-10 weeks and are willing to engage and commit to developing our students are encouraged to be skill mentors. Skill Mentors provide guidance on role-specific/digital skills such as CAD, Prostart, Python, etc. and/or human skills such as complex problem solving, data literacy, cultural agility, etc.
Project Coach
These adults serve as resources and guides to point our students in the right direction, help them structure their efforts productively, and provide them with the feedback they need in order to produce the best results. Project Coaches meet regularly with student groups throughout the project challenge process (approximately one hour per week for 8 to 10 weeks).
Do you have an idea for a project for your organization?
LAUNCH projects should meet the following criteria:
● Real world projects that are important, but aren’t a number one priority. Consider items 7 through 9 on your to-do list.
● Problems/projects that don’t already have a solution
● Projects that involve employees through authentic problem solving and new idea development
● Projects that can be completed by a team of 3-5 students within 8-10 weeks
● Projects with clearly identified deliverables and outcomes
Business Analytics project examples:
● Interview key stakeholders regarding a monthly product release process that has become time consuming and complex. Document and analyze the current process and optimize the process for the future.
● Identify and understand what factors lead patients to leave a given medical facility. Identify opportunities for improvement or care redesign using human centered design thinking.
Media Solutions project examples:
● Plan and develop a social media campaign that showcases a local business’s impact on its community and employees.
● How can a local branch of a nonprofit organization leverage social media to better inform the community of their work and mission?
What we need from Project Coaches:
Coaching is at the heart of the LAUNCH learning environment. The process is about transferring information, competence, and experience so students can make good use of coaching expertise and build their confidence accordingly. Coaches encourage, nurture, and provide support because they’ve already “walked the path” of the team members and are responsible to the engaged project sponsor. Coaching is critical for a successful 8 to 10 week student project experience. Coaching may take place in-person, through online meetings, or in classrooms where coaches act as professional experts, facilitators of process, and guides to delivering learning value. Typically, coaches meet with students one time per week.
Thank you for your support!
LAUNCH is an example of how business, community, agencies and educators can partner to produce the most personalized profession-based experiences that educate the talent of tomorrow, especially in high skill, high demand jobs. In addition, students will be exposed to industry brands, build a professional network of support, and develop credentials that will foster continuous improvement via lifelong learning, unlock and access their human potential, collaboration and problem solving skills. Students will learn how to learn for themselves!
— Cara Carper is the School District of Monroe Student Occupation and Academic Readiness (SOAR) Coordinator. If you or your organization would like to engage in LAUNCH, please contact Cara Carper at caracarper@monroe.k12.wi.us.
