Frequently Asked Questions: For Hosts
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Has this ever been done before?
What is the cost to the business partner?
What would the expectations be for a teacher extern in my company? What is the teacher experience going to be like?
What type of teachers would be involved? Is there an application process?
Where will the teacher be coming from? Will they have to find lodging during the externship?
What is the time commitment? When in the summer would this happen?
What companies have participated to date?
What is the benefit to my company?
Are there any expectations of our company after the externship is completed?
Has this ever been done before?
Last summer, IMSEP piloted the Real World Externships for Teachers with 10 mathematics and science teachers across Iowa, and 10 industry hosts. For examples of Summer 2009 externships follow this link.
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What is the cost to the business partner?
Currently there is no cost to the business. IMSEP pays the teacher externs $150 per day.
We will provide to the business host an evaluative template for reviewing and reporting on the externship experience. We will encourage open exchange between hosts, externs and the IMSEP. We would like to conduct exit interviews with both hosts and teacher extern at the completion of the externship.
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What would the expectations be for a teacher extern in my company? What is the teacher experience going to be like?
We would like to provide applicants with a description of the type of work that would be asked of them. What might a typical day be like for the teacher-extern? This will allow us to better match teachers to your company for mutual satisfaction in the program.
The work experience may ideally be a long-term project for you that utilizes the skills of the teacher's discipline in some form of genuine work setting.
There will be expectations of the teacher externs associated with participation in the externship program. During externship, teachers will converse, collaborate and share their experiences via teleconference with other participants across the state in different companies.
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What type of teachers would be involved? Is there an application process?
Currently, secondary math, science, technology and computer science teachers across the state are being invited to participate. Teachers will submit an application to be reviewed by the Iowa Math and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP).
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Where will the teacher be coming from? Will they have to find lodging during the externship?
This program is designed so that participants can find an externship near their home and community where they teach.
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What is the time commitment? When in the summer would this happen?
We recommend mid-June to the end of July as the ideal timeframe. Teachers are to make arrangements with summer hosts as to calendar of commitment.
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What companies have participated to date?
Last summer, IMSEP piloted the Real World Externships for Teachers with 10 math and science teachers across Iowa, and 10 industry hosts.
Hosting industries were:
- Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo
- Kemin Industries, Des Moines
- Blackhawk County Conservation, Cedar Falls
- Pella Corporation, Pella
- Struxture Architects, Waterloo
- Clipper Windpower, Cedar Rapids
- Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Water Quality, Des Moines
- Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Management, Fishery and Land Use Management, Boone
- Polk County Conservation, Des Moines
- Hagie Manufacturing, Clarion
What is the benefit to my company?
Teachers externing in your company will become more familiar with real-world applications to the disciplines they teach that they will apply to how and what they teach. They will also work with your industry to educate students about career options near home. IMSEP will publically announce to the state of Iowa all companies participating in the externship program, officially recognizing and acknowledging the commitment of Iowa businesses to improving education in our state. By welcoming a teacher into your company for a summer, you are indirectly training the future workforce of Iowa!
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Are there any expectations of our company after the externship is completed?
This would be the launch point for permanent business-school partnerships after completion of the externship. We would ask that as the business host, you commit to assisting the teacher and their students during the academic year through speakers, tours, resources and materials. IMSEP will also follow up with your business to get evaluative data about the experience.
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