Regional Occupational Program
(ROP)
Contact Info
Mark Hodges
Senior Director,
Regional Occupational Program
Jim Howes
Assistant Director,
Regional Occupational Program
Michelle Cuartilon
Department Coordinator,
Regional Occupational Program
Laurie
Stewart-Rider
Administrative Secretary
Main phone #: (831) 466-5760
Fax: (831) 466-5769
Visit the Regional Occupational Programs web site:
http://www.rop.santacruz.k12.ca.us
Student & Personnel Services: Regional Occupational Program (ROP)
ROP Graphic Design Students Participate in Real-World Market Research
ROP students participated in real-world market research on Thursday, October 4th. A national market research consultant, working on an educational project funded by The Gates Foundation and The Monterey Institute for Technology and Education (MITE) interviewed twenty-one students in Pam Falke-Krueger’s ROP graphic design courses at Harbor High School.
Students reviewed the proposed online math and English college placement diagnostic and teaching tool with an eye to design and user experience. They reviewed the product from a college-bound student’s point of view. Students offered the researchers valuable feedback while they gained career experience for their own design and branding assignments.
The Monterey Institute for Technology and Education is a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting society’s need for access to effective, high-quality educational opportunities in an era of rapid economic, social, and personal change. MITE is currently developing a product called EdReady, a direct-to-student, free, online college readiness diagnostic and customized remediation tool. This tool is being designed to help high school and adult students identify their strengths and weaknesses in math and English, and then use that information to make informed college choices and better prepare themselves for college-level courses. MITE is developing this tool in collaboration with the many member institutions of the National Repository of Online Courses (NROC) Network as well as with ongoing feedback via focus groups from students, teachers, and administrators who are the intended end users.
ROP classes provide students with opportunities to explore college and career options. Marketing, graphic design and related industries rely on market research to test and improve products and services. Harbor High School ROP students were excited to participate in actual focus groups for a product that may help them realize their college dreams.
