Learning about Opportunities at the BCTAL

Falcons Heading to the BCTAL

On Tuesday, November 29, our 8th grade Falcons boarded the buses and headed to the Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning (@BISDBCTAL).  Through various conversations, students were unsure of the what they were about to experience during our time at the BCTAL.  A few had siblings who took classes there, but again, many were about to experience a first!  

As our 250 8th graders entered the Omni Room, I overheard many conversations.  Students were amazed that this was a "school."  They wondered if this is what our new campus, opening this coming fall, would look like.  They wondered how they could take classes here.  Within minutes, many would learn the answers to these questions, along with many more that were sparked, as students learned about the awesome opportunities that awaited them in high school!  

Current BCTAL students served as tour guides, which was awesome!  Student voice & student experience are huge when it comes to meeting the needs of our learners.  Our student leaders are both part of the criminal justice program.  The young men shared about their off campus learning opportunities, as well as the hands-on opportunities they encounter each day.  Both young men plan on pursuing a career in criminal justice and are looking ahead to what colleges offer these programs.  

One of our awesome tour guides

As we moved throughout the BCTAL, students were introduced to the various programs offered.  We began our tour by learning about the construction tech and automotive tech programs.  I love how students in these programs are able to have hands-on experiences, along with time in the classroom to learn.  Students were amazed at the playhouses that were student built, as well as the shop where students worked on actual cars.

  

Learning Vocational Trades such as Auto & Construction Tech

Building playhouses for area children

Our next stop on the tour was the agriculture program.  Students walked through the student-built green house, on our way to the cosmetology program.   Cosmetology is a popular interest amongst middle school girls!  Here students learned that they could graduate from high school with their license, at a reduced price.  What a huge incentive that is for our students!  

Students were introduced to the graphic design, audio visual and computer programming offerings as well!  Current projects were being worked on such as creating and adding sound effects into movies and determining how to move a car across the floor.  Knowing how intrigued students were so about computer programming and software engineering, I was thrilled we got to see these programs first hand!  

Computer Programming Opportunities

Our tour ended with a focus on computer networking and criminal justice programs.  Because our tour guides are part of the criminal justice program, their passion came alive at this stop!  Students were intrigued by what they did and had some great questions.  

Learning about CISCO, Computer Networking & Criminal Justice

The excitement and energy from our Falcons, as we exited the Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning (@BISDBCTAL) was incredible, after our field trip! Many students said it was awesome that we had done our goal setting conferences before hand because now they better understood which classes would benefit their future plans.  Students weren't afraid to ask questions about pre-requisites or for advice from the students as what classes to take, so they could make the most of the BCTAL course offerings.   In fact, several students have already put schedule change requests into our counselor, after this learning experience!

The connections Falcons made between our digital goal setting and our visit reiterated once again why building relationships with our students is vital to their success, as well as igniting the passion of learning in all of us!