Media Specialist High Skills Major

Media Specialist High Skills Major

The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a specialized program approved by the Ministry of Education that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the rtequirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

SHSMs assist students in their transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace.

These programs enable students to gain sector-specific skills and knowledge in engaging, career-related learning environments, and prepare in a focused way for graduation and postsecondary education, training or employment.

Profile – Information and Communications Technoloy

Information and communications technology (ICT) is the sector that processes information (which includes capturing, transmitting and displaying information) using electronic systems. The ICTsector continues to transform our economy and everyday life. According to Industry Canada, the total number of ICT workers in Canada increased by 10.7 per cent between 2002 and 2008. Employees in the ICT sector are well compensated. On average, an ICT worker earned $58,618 in 2007 – 46 per cent more that the economy-wide average of $40.083.

Students enrolled in the SHSM – Information and Communications Technology will be involved in today’s rapid and exciting changes in technology and will comtribute to new and emerging media and technoloties in the years to come.

The SHSM – Information and Communications Technology has the following five required components:

• Four ICT major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills
• Three other required credits from the Ontario curriculum, in English, mathematics and a choice of business studies, science or the arts, in which some expectations are met through learning activities contextualized to the arts and culture sector
• Two co-operative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling studens to refine, extend, apply and practise sector-specific knowledge and skills

There are NO extra credits required to complete this program. All required credits may be obtained within the 30 required credits for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Six sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs

The SHSM in ICT requires students to complete six sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs. Of these, three are compulsory and the remaining three are electives that must be chosen from the list in the following list.

Three Compulsory:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level A
• Generic instruction about the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• Standard First Aid

Three Electives:

• computer hardware
• counterfeit detection
• customer service
• digital lighting
• electrical safety
• electronics – basic
• elevated work platforms
• equipment interfacing
• ergonomics
• fall protection
• health and safety – basic
• intellectual property
• internet security
• lighting and sound equipment maintenance
• network cabling
• network configuraton
• photography
• recording equipment
• software
• technical support

Experiential learning and career exploration activities

Experiental learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the sector might include:

• One-on-one observation of a co-operative education student at a placement in the ICT sector
• A day-long observation of an ICT sector worker
• A one-or two-week work experience with a member of an industry association or a professional in the ICT sector
• Attendance at a sector trade show, conference, symposium or job fair
• Participation in a local, provincial or national contest or competition with a focus on ICT
• A tour of a local television/fiml studio or networking monitoring centre

Reach ahead experiences

Students are provided one or more reach ahead experiences – opportunities to take the next steps along their chosen pathway.

Essential Skills and work habits and the OSP

Students will develop Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector and document them using the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP), a component of the SHSM.

Seven Key Benifits for Students

Pursuing a SHSM enables students to:

1. Customize their secondary school education to suit their interests and talents
2. Develop specialized knowledge and skills that are valued by the sector and postsecondary education institutions
3. Earn credits that are recognized by the sector and postsecondary institutions
4. Gain sector-specific and career-relevant certification and training
5. Develop Essential Skills and work habits that are valued by the sector, recorded using the tools in the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP)
6. Identify, explore and refine their career goals and make informed decisions about their postsecondary destination
7. Remain flexible, with the option to shift between pathways should their goal and plans change