Background:

Beginning in 2021, Project Build Minnesota (PBM) convened the the Minnesota Construction Teachers Conference (MCTC) with the goal of building connections between the construction industry and construction educators in order to increase the number of young people joining the trades as their “career of choice.”

In 2024, the conference will be organized in partnership with the Associated Builders and Contractors of Minnesota/North Dakota (ABC of MN/ND) and the Electrical Association and will have a focus on commercial construction and emerging technologies in construction.

Participant Objectives:

Minnesota Construction Teachers Conference engages secondary and post-secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) educators of the construction trades. Through participating in this conference, they will:

• Understand the nuances between residential, commercial and industrial construction.

• Understand the current data trends in high school graduation rates, college attendance/graduation rates and how to promote careers in the trades to young people and their families.

• Share and learn how high schools might start to build tiny homes or full size residential homes by learning from other model programs in Minnesota.

• Learn about emerging construction technologies and participate in a residential solar installation demonstration that can be brought back into the classroom.

• Examine current practices in safety training with special emphasis on training youth to be safe in the trades classroom

• Learn about the latest trends in construction through touring an active commercial job site.

• Participate in structured neworking with other educators, administrators, and industry professionals

• Earn 10.5 CEUs