(a) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grade 12. The practicum course is a paid or unpaid capstone experience for students participating in a coherent sequence of career and technical education courses in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Career Cluster. Prerequisites: Algebra I and Geometry. Recommended prerequisites: two credits from the courses in the STEM Career Cluster. Corequisite: Practicum in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This course must be taken concurrently with Practicum in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and may not be taken as a stand-alone course. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course. A student may repeat this course once for credit provided that the student is experiencing different aspects of the industry and demonstrating proficiency in additional and more advanced knowledge and skills.
(b) Introduction.
  (1) Career and technical education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.
  (2) The STEM Career Cluster focuses on planning, managing, and providing scientific research and professional and technical services, including laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.
  (3) Extended Practicum in STEM is designed to give students supervised practical application of previously studied knowledge and skills. Practicum experiences can occur in a variety of locations appropriate to the nature and level of experience.
  (4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.
  (5) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.
(c) Knowledge and skills.
  (1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:
    (A) participate in a paid or unpaid, laboratory- or work-based application of previously studied knowledge and skills related to STEM;
    (B) participate in training, education, or preparation for licensure, certification, or other relevant credentials to prepare for employment;
    (C) demonstrate professional standards and personal qualities needed to be employable such as self-discipline, positive attitude, integrity, leadership, appreciation for diversity, customer service, work ethic, and adaptability with increased fluency;
    (D) employ teamwork and conflict-management skills with increased fluency to achieve collective goals; and
    (E) employ planning and time-management skills and tools such as prioritizing tasks, following schedules, and performing goal-relevant activities with increased fluency to enhance results and complete work tasks.
  (2) The student applies professional communications strategies. The student is expected to:
    (A) demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication consistently in a clear, concise, and effective manner;
    (B) apply active listening skills to obtain and clarify information;
    (C) create and deliver formal and informal presentations effectively;
    (D) analyze, interpret, and effectively communicate information, data, and observations; and
    (E) observe and interpret verbal and nonverbal cues and behaviors to enhance communication.
  (3) The student implements advanced problem-solving methods. The student is expected to:
    (A) employ critical-thinking skills with increased fluency both independently and in groups to solve problems and make decisions;
    (B) analyze elements of problems to develop creative and innovative solutions;
    (C) apply decision-making techniques with increased fluency to the selection of technological solutions; and
    (D) conduct technical research to gather information necessary for decision making.
  (4) The student understands and applies proper safety and security techniques in the workplace. The student is expected to understand and consistently follow workplace safety rules and regulations.
  (5) The student understands the professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities in STEM-related fields. The student is expected to:
    (A) demonstrate a positive, productive work ethic by performing assigned tasks as directed;
    (B) apply ethical reasoning to a variety of situations in order to make ethical decisions; and
    (C) comply with all applicable rules, laws, and regulations in a consistent manner.
  (6) The student participates in a supervised STEM experience. The student is expected to:
    (A) conduct, document, and evaluate learning activities in a supervised STEM experience;
    (B) develop advanced technical knowledge and skills related to the student's occupational objective;
    (C) evaluate strengths and weaknesses in technical skill proficiency; and
    (D) collect representative work samples.

Source Note: The provisions of this §127.760 adopted to be effective April 7, 2022, 47 TexReg 1677