Wood Technology & Processes

Competitive Events Prep and SkillsUSA

By 2014 the construction industry is expected to be among the U.S. economy’s top ten largest sources of job growth. Carpentry and cabinetmaking represent the largest single occupation in that industry. Competition is fierce, and students will need to build skills and practical abilities in order to compete in the job market. As an instructor, one way to prepare you students to compete is to encourage them to participate in local, state, and nationwide competitive events. There are many competitions for high school students, but the most notable ones in carpentry and cabinetmaking are sponsored by Skills USA.

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled, and service occupations. One of the most visible programs of SkillsUSA is the annual SkillsUSA Championships. This competition program serves as a showcase for some of the best career and technical students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels.

Technology Student Association

The Technology Student Association promotes personal growth, leadership, and opportunities in technology, innovation, design, and engineering. Members apply and integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts by participating in co-curricular activities, competitive events, and related programs.

Participating in TSA competitive events is a fun way for students to apply and test their technology knowledge. Students have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and qualities through TSA competition.

Other Competitions

For teachers who would like to learn more about other competitions, a good place to look is http://www.tsaweb.org/High-School-Competitions.

PLANNING FOR COMPETITION

Logistics

Check for registration deadlines, submissions deadlines and guidelines, and any interim deadlines. If there are fees, see if there is a school budget, PTA fund, or community sponsor. If not, consider a student fundraiser. Clear dates, procedures, and permissions early with parents and administration.

Instructional Connections

Choose competition(s) that align with your curriculum. Schedule instructional units to synch with student needs for specific content learning that they will need to support their competitive efforts. While meeting competition requirements, build in your own requirements to ensure that students gain the learning from the competition that you want them to acquire.

Team Building

When you lay the groundwork in the fall for learning in your classroom, teach students how you want them to work in teams, including respecting each others’ contributed ideas and work, sharing responsibility, assigning tasks, and collaborating to problem solve.

Finding and Planning for Competitions

The SkillsUSA competition cycle for chapter, state, and regional competitions for CTE students begins in the fall. More than a quarter-million students and teachers in local chapters can compete in 130 occupational categories linked to curriculum and instruction. At http://www.skillsusa.org, use the Compete pull-down menu to find contest descriptions and state competition calendars. On the State Competition Calendar page, click on state directors for contacts and Web sites with more information. The Technology Student Association provides print and video descriptions of its three dozen competitions in categories ranging from construction to dragster design to future technologies.

PREPARATION FOR SkillsUSA COMPETITION

How to Get Started

To adequately prepare for the national competitions you must have a copy of the current year’s SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards. If your advisor does not have it, he/she may go online to http://www.skillsusa.org/store/contests.html and purchase the standards. It is also helpful to purchase a copy of the prior year’s contest projects to give you an idea of what the competition will be like. Be sure to read the general rules in the standards book. They contain information that applies to all contestants that may not be included in the specific contest guidelines section. Important Dates to Remember To be eligible to compete, students must be current, active members of SkillsUSA. The national deadline for submission of membership dues is March 1; however each state association sets its own state deadline. Again, contact your state association for membership submission dates.

Registration Fee

The national registration fee is $115 and includes admission to the opening ceremonies, dance/fun activities, amusement park, and the closing ceremonies.

Build Up to the Nationals

Most states start with local competitions, then regionals, and then on to the state event. Contact your state association director for specific rules and scheduling. The nationals become the next proving ground where competition finals fill a space equivalent to 17 football fields. Students compete for cash scholarships, recognition, and the sheer pleasure of the challenge.

Tips for Success

In addition to familiarizing yourself with the contest guidelines, be sure to follow the complete competition/conference schedule. It may include a mandatory orientation meeting where critical contest information is discussed. The contest managers may administer a written or oral professional test that counts toward your total score during this meeting. Pay attention, take notes, and ask questions. Make sure you have all the items listed in the technical standards and have the appropriate clothing. Otherwise, you will lose points. Check for any changes or preparation help posted in the “Contest Updates” on the SkillsUSA Web page.

Focus on Soft Skills as Well as Hard

Some SkillsUSA state conferences draw thousands of attendees and are the largest educational events that take place in their states. Programs and competitions focus not just on technical proficiency, but on the development of the soft skills that students need to succeed in the workplace. These important skills include:
• teamwork and cooperation
• organization
• public speaking
• presentation

What Students Can Gain

Students can win thousands of dollars in the value of tools, training opportunities, and scholarships. The national conference is more than the competitions and prizes. It is a very worthwhile and memorable experience for all participants—a time to meet other students, see what the latest industry technologies and equipment are, network, experience other cultures, and possibly get a job.

Learn State Details

To find out more about your own state meeting, you can contact state officers listed at www.skillsusa.org/about/dir4.shtml. State organizations differ in their Web site address protocols, for example: www.azskillsusa.org, www.ohioskillsusa.org, www.skillsusageorgia.org, or www.skillsusaca.org. Google “SkillsUSA” and your state, or assign a student team to do the research. Web sites feature information about registration, program highlights, listings of events that are still open for signup, and those in which regional winners will compete for top honors.

Sample Documents

Clink on the links below to view an example of the types of competitions SkillsUSA offers in Cabinetmaking and training verification forms required by SkillsUSA. By familiarizing yourself and your students with these documents, you will be better prepared to enter a SkillsUSA competition.
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SkillsUSA Competition Guidelines (31.0K) ]
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Proof of Training for SkillsUSA Competition (12.0K)

Practice Projects

The projects below are designed to help prepare students for competition by teaching them how to estimate and plan projects.

For individual woodworking projects see the Better Homes and Gardens WOOD Magazine projects in the Student Edition, Student Workbook, and Teacher Resource Guide.
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Stairway Materials and Labor (11.0K)
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Molding and Trim (19.0K)
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Cabinetry (15.0K)