With support from the Alabama Power Foundation, Go Build Alabama has created a skilled trades e-textbook in partnership with the Alabama Department of Education.

The e-textbook curriculum showcases careers in Alabama SUCCESS (Supporting Career Cluster Education for Students System) using interactive exercises for students and teachers. The e-textbook was released Tuesday, July 29, at the Alabama Career and Technical Education Professional Development Conference.

“Students today are growing up in a technology centered world, and it’s important to adapt educational materials to fit into their new learning habits,” said Alabama Power Foundation President John Hudson. “It is our hope that this e-textbook will engage more students and bring more workers into the skilled trades, as they learn in a hands-on way about the opportunities in the industry.”

Inside the e-textbook, students will be able to use interactive widgets, tap pop-ups for more information, watch video interviews of men and women who work in the skilled trades, investigate career paths and locate training facilities in Alabama.

“This e-textbook will become a vital companion piece to Alabama’s 2014-15 high school career readiness curriculum,” said Philip Cleveland, director of Career and Technical Education and Workforce Development for the Alabama Department of Education. “In this e-textbook, students will find a roadmap for what they need to study, what kinds of hands-on, in-field training experiences are worthwhile and where to find them, and how much money they can expect to earn in a given job classification. This e-book is a must-read for anyone with an aptitude for working in the skilled trades.”

Project came to life through partnerships

The e-textbook will be available as a free download in the Apple iBooks Store. It will be freely distributed to all seventh- to ninth-graders in Alabama beginning this upcoming school year. The project was made possible by a grant from the Alabama Power Foundation.

Go Build Alabama worked closely with the Alabama Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education Section to develop the e-textbook. All content was vetted through the Department of Education to ensure it is applicable to Alabama students.

Helping to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges is a key component of the Alabama Power Foundation’s Brighter Minds education initiative and the Go Build e-textbook will go a long way toward achieving that goal.