Workforce Development for the Future

What do you want to be when you grow up? What school are you going to attend? What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now? These are all questions high school students are asked regularly. For some students, the answer is easy. I want to be a teacher, or a firefighter, a doctor, or an electrician. But for many, the answer is 'I don't know'.

Today, there is an opportunity for students to participate in Career & Technical Education in various industry sectors. These programs have an emphasis on career-readiness and provides students with academic and technical skills and knowledge in their chosen field of interest. The work-based learning model, is not only proven to help students gain real-world experience, but helps to shape their future career choices.

Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy, in partnership with businesses and industries across North Dakota, are working together to expand their CTE programs in a new and exciting way. For one week this summer, students from across the state will come together to participate in a week-long High School Lineworker Elective Program.

The program will take place at Bismarck State College, where students will experience dorm-life while learning more about the Lineworker trade. The curriculum will include:

  • Understanding direct/alternating current theory
  • Testing equipment hands-on
  • Learning line worker tools and safety
  • Understanding the electrical grid
  • Participation in industry tours
  • And more…

Supporting youth in building skills for a better future is not only important for career readiness. It is also one key strategy for workforce development. Today, employers continue to struggle building a pipeline for future employment and retaining employees with industry training and experience.

Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative understands these challenges. In fact, MWEC is currently working with high school counselors/career advisors in Mountrail and Williams County to identify students interested in participating in the Lineworker Elective Program. A limited number of scholarships will be available for students to participate in the program at no cost. In addition, approximately 20 hours of on-the-job shadowing will be provided by MWEC staff to fulfill the programs high school credit requirement.

Students interested in participating in this program can register with their local high school. The information needed by the high school counselor/career advisor is:

Cooperative Work Experience
MISO3# 17999.

For additional information on the program curriculum, students can contact Kent Ellis, kent_ellis@bismarckschools.org.

For additional information on scholarship opportunities for students living in Mountrail or Williams county contact Dubi Cummings, Dubic@mwec.com .

(TENTATIVE)
High School Lineworker Elective Program

Sunday June 11, 2023
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Check into dorms, dinner, introductions, schedule, emergency procedures, orientation, etc.

Monday June 12, 2023
     (Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy Electronics Classroom)

Morning Session:
Direct Current Theory

  1. Describe is electricity, atomic theory, electron movement, direct
  2. Sources of DC.
  3. Describe voltage, current and resistance.
  4. Utilize Ohm’s law to show the mathematical relationship between volts, amps and ohms.
  5. Define series and parallel circuits.
  6. Use Ohm’s law to calculate missing values (E,I & R) in series and parallel circuits.

Afternoon Session:
Lab

  1. Test equipment familiarization - Multimeter, breadboard, DC power supply.
  2. Construct (breadboard) a basic series circuit utilizing resistors, switches and lamps with a DC power source.
  3. Calculate E, I & R at various points in the circuit.
  4. Utilize a multimeter to measure and confirm your calculations.
  5. Analyze and troubleshoot to resolve discrepancies between calculations and measurements.
  6. Construct (breadboard) a basic parallel circuit utilizing resistors, switches and lamps with a DC power source.
  7. Repeat steps C, D and E.

Evening Session:
Lineworkers tools and safety Lab
     Bismarck State College Mandan Lineworkers Facility

Tuesday June 12, 2023
     (Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy Electronics Classroom)

Morning Session:
Alternating Current Theory

  1. Describe alternating current.
  2. Sources of AC.
  3. Compare and contrast with direct current voltage, current and resistance, Ohm’s law, etc.
  4. Transformer theory
    - Step up/down, Turns ratio vs resistance ratio, Transformer types ie; center tap.

Afternoon Session
Lab

  1. Test equipment familiarization
    Multimeter, breadboard, AC power supply, oscilloscope.
  2. Construct (breadboard) a basic series circuit utilizing resistors, switches and lamps with an AC power source.
  3. Calculate E,I & R at various points in the circuit.
  4. Utilize a multimeter to measure and confirm your calculations.
  5. Analyze and troubleshoot to resolve discrepancies between calculations and measurements.
  6. Construct (breadboard) a basic parallel circuit utilizing resistors, switches and lamps with an AC power source.
  7. Repeat steps C, D & E.
  8. Measure Voltage at various points in the circuit with an oscilloscope and confirm with a multimeter.
  9. Transformer labs
    1. Measure resistance input and output windings of various transformers to calculate turns and voltage ratios.
    2. Apply low voltage AC to various transformers and confirm calculations from step 1.
    3. Use an oscilloscope to view and measure the AC waveforms across a transformer.

Evening Session:
Lineworkers tools and safety Lab
     Bismarck State College Mandan Lineworkers Facility

Wednesday June 13, 2023
     Bismarck State College Lineworkers Facility
          - Power line apparatus, transformers, connections, substation and switchyard functions, line fuses, oil circuit reclosers, etc.

Thursday June 14, 2023
          - Industry Tours – (power plant, switchyard, substation, control room, etc.)

Morning:
June 15, 2023
Dorm check-out
Course evaluation
Speakers
REC internships
Scholarships
BPS grade and credit
BSC Lineworkers Program

HS Lineworker BPS CTE.pdf

Registration
Students can work with the school to register for this program. The information the school needs is:

Cooperative Work Experience
MISO3#  17999

Upon registering the student, the high school will provide his information to Kent Ellis at kent_ellis@bismarckschools.org . Kent works for Bismarck High School and is the master-mind behind this program. He is the best point of contact regarding questions about the program.

Program Communication
Once the student’s information is received, Kent and his team will reach out and provide program details.

Approximately 20 hours of shadowing with MWEC is required for the student to receive the full credit available for this class. Bismarck High School is finalizing the credits for this class, however, expect it to be around .5 credits.

Once the program has met its threshold of students, MWEC will work with students sponsored to plan a shadowing itinerary with dates/times.

Course Requirement
This class will require a minimum of 10 students (from across North Dakota) to participate and move forward with the curriculum.