White Station High – Construction Practicum

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

Construction Practicum is a capstone course intended to provide students with the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge learned in previous Architecture & Construction courses within a professional, working environment. In addition to developing an understanding of the professional and ethical issues encountered by tradesmen and contractors in the workplace, students learn to refine their skills in problem solving, communication, teamwork, and project management in the completion of a course-long project. Due to the importance of on-the-job training in the construction industry, a principle aim of the practicum is to assist students with placements where on-the-job training occurs, if available, so they can begin to log hours on a worksite and gain experience prior to entering the job market, such as in pre-apprenticeships. Additionally, students are exposed to the great range of postsecondary opportunities in today’s construction fields as well, in order to prepare them to make an informed decision regarding their post-high school plans. The course is highly customizable to meet local system needs. Instruction may be delivered through work-based learning arrangements such as internships, cooperative education, service learning, mentoring, and job shadowing or through school laboratory training with industry-driven project based learning. For all projects undertaken in this course, students are expected to continue building skills related to their chosen program of study (Residential & Commercial Construction, Structural Systems, or Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing Systems), while also refining skills previously acquired to achieve deeper levels of mastery. In the course, students may pursue additional training and certification in a specialized area such as masonry, concrete, electricity, plumbing, HVAC, or carpentry. Upon completion of the practicum, proficient students will be prepared to pursue further study in architecture or construction, or seek additional training and employment with the aid of a portfolio documenting student work completed throughout high school. Broadly, individuals that work in the AV communications industry manufacture, sell, rent, design, install, integrate, operate, and repair the equipment of audiovisual communications. They are involved in the presentation of sound, video, and data to groups in such venues as corporate boardrooms, hotels, convention centers, classrooms, theme parks, stadiums, and museums. The major activity sectors in the AV communications industry are distributive service firms (AV dealers, rental companies, consultants, designers, and related firms), manufacturers of AV presentations and communications products, and large end-users. Most observers expect the job growth rate within AV industries to be at 20-30 percent for the foreseeable future. In just the AV systems technician field, the industry could expect to add 20,600 jobs annually.