Professional Development

Midlands Education and Business Alliance offers professional development opportunities to educators to keep them abreast of the rapidly changing world of business so that they can more effectively advise and educate students on future careers and the requirement to pursue those careers. Professional development opportunities include activities such as educator field studies, graduate courses, seminars and workshops, and teacher job shadowing.

Please use your district attendance / participation policies for MEBA activities.

Contextual Teaching and Learning One-Day Seminar June 17, 2009

The South Carolina Regional Career Specialists in partnership with the Office of Career and Technology Education are sponsoring one-day Contextual Teaching and Learning Workshops (free to all SC educators ) across the state.

The Midlands workshop will provide examples of interactive activities from Midlands business partners and South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV). The workshop is open to all curriculum content areas for middle and high school educators.

Registration form

Graduate Courses

Graduate courses are taught by qualified faculty. Courses are selected based on the results of an annual needs assessment.

Teachers in the Workplace

Teachers in the Workplace is a three-hour summer graduate course sponsored by Midlands Education and Business Alliance. The course requires teachers to take a practical approach to understanding the world of work. Each teacher spends forty hours in a challenging position in business and industry in order to get hands-on experience with the skills needed to be successful in careers in that particular industry. In addition to the internship, teachers participate in sessions with classmates, develop lesson plans and give presentations as part of the successful completion of Teachers in the Workplace. Teachers can draw on the experience to infuse practical knowledge about the world of work and necessary job skills into their classroom presentations. Registration form

Business and Industry Analysis

The goal of this course is to allow the educator to examine the sixteen Career Clusters that South Carolina is working with. The purpose of the “Business and Industry Analysis I” course is to afford students the opportunity to explore in-depth, real places of work. This course is an opportunity for educators to learn the current business technology and interpersonal skills used in two very distinct clusters of study. The student should plan to spend a minimum of 40 working hours, on site, in two local industries (20/20), under a qualified on-site supervisor. (Three hours of graduate credit – 45 hours of class/work time) Prerequisite: Teachers in the Workplace I (with at least one year between courses to begin implementing lessons learned from Teachers in the Workplace course) Registration form

Educators Exploring Career Clusters - Manufacturing

The course is designed to support the “Personal Pathways” initiative of South Carolina’s Education and Economic Development Act by providing to educators the opportunity for in- depth exploration of one of the sixteen career clusters. The current course will focus on the Manufacturing career cluster/Advanced Manufacturing. Through site visits and shadowing experiences, educators will gain insight in to the required technology and other workplace skills necessary to the industry. As a result, the educator will develop methods to prepare their students to transition successfully to this career path (Three hours of graduate credit – 45 hours of class/industry hours). Registration form

Career Development Facilitator Training

Designed to train K-16 educators and other professionals who offer career assistance and guidance services in Career Development Facilitation (CDF). This course leads to a better understanding of career development resources and assessments and an awareness of one's professional strengths and needed improvements in the area of career guidance. (6 hours graduate credit )

Educator Field Studies

Educator Field Studies bring together teachers, counselors, and administrators for a day of in depth learning about a specific cluster. Educators spend a day visiting work sites and hearing firsthand from professionals. During the field studies, professionals discuss the skills students need for tomorrow's careers. Educators gain the knowledge to make their curriculum more relevant, useful and meaningful for students as they learn how content area ties to the world of work.

2009-2010 Educator Field Studies
Registration for the 2009-2010 Educator Field Studies will be posted four weeks prior to the activity. A link to the registration form (Survey Monkey) will be posted by the field study listed below. Since space is limited, we ask that you only register if you intend on attending the event. Field studies for the year are Architecture & Construction - March 11, 2010; Finance - TBA; Healthcare - September 30, 2009; Hospitality & Tourism - TBA; Information and Technology - October 28, 2009; Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security - January 12, 2010; Manufacturing - February 3, 2010; Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics - November 10, 2009; Transportation, Distribution & Logistics - February 24, 2010; and "Uptown" Businesses - December 9, 2009.

Architecture & Construction - March 11, 2010

Educators explore the many aspects of the residential and commercial construction industry, the technology involved, the many changes of the industry and the advanced math and science skills needed to have a career in construction. The field study is hosted by the Architecture & Construction Alliance.

Healthcare - September 30, 2009

Educators visit area health-care facilities to learn about the different types of careers in health sciences and the expectations of employers for students entering the profession during this field study hosted by the Health Science Alliance.

Hospitality & Tourism - TBA

Educators will visit sites such as The University of South Carolina McCutchen House; South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism; Midlands’s hotels; Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism; and several other facilities that are part of the hospitality and tourism cluster of study. The field study is hosted by the Hospitality & Tourism Alliance.

Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security - January 12, 2010

Educators will visit several legal, corrections, and military facilities, participate in mock simulations, learn about the careers in law, public safety, corrections, and the security sector, and the about the technology they use. The field study is hosted by the Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security Alliance.

Manufacturing - February 3, 2010

Educators visit area manufacturers to learn about manufacturing careers and see the state-of-the-art facilities and how computers, robots and people all come together to manufacture products during this field study hosted by the Manufacturing Alliance.

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics - November 10, 2009

Educators will visit various Engineering and Emerging Technology companies in the Midlands area. This field study is hosted by the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Alliance.

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics - November 12, 2008

Careers and different aspects of the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics industry are explored firsthand. This field study is hosted by the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Alliance.

Uptown Careers - December 9, 2009

Educators visit downtown businesses that specialize in legal, accounting, marketing, finance, and banking support services to explore the many career opportunities in the professional services industry. The Business, Management and Administration Alliance hosts this field study.

Teacher Job Shadowing

Teachers are introduced to the workplace through job shadowing. Teachers are assigned to an employer who mentors them at the business or industry. A sample of business and industries hosting teachers in the past for shadowing experiences include Palmetto Health, Lexington Medical Center, Total Comfort Service Center, Michelin NA, Inc., Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals, CMC Steel SC, SCE&G, and SCANA.

Teacher Shadowing Registration Form

Workshops and Seminars

Business Matters is a conference for elementary, middle and high school educators to provide them with the opportunity to see firsthand why business matters to educators and to enhance classroom learning. Topics include job keeping and seeking skills, dress for success, customer service, real world math and science concepts and other business principles.

Business Matters Seminar - February 13, 2009

This year's Business Matters will include sessions from the MEBA Business Alliances, School-Based Committees, and the Midlands Regional Education Center.

Registration Form

Poverty Training Seminar - March 16 and 17, 2009

This Seminar will provide tips, strategies, and resources for working with children and parents of poverty.