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Thoroughbred Education
Integrating academic and vocational education through special events and activities.
Look for Thoroughbred workshop sessions at state and national meetings this fall.

The Thoroughbred Education Project is an initiative increase collaboration between vocational and academic teachers, integrate and reinforce academic skills taught in vocational classes, promote the study of current issues through research of factual information, and provide a pilot program that can be expanded to a nationwide effort.

Linkages
This project will link vocational teachers and students with their academic counterparts and will provide opportunities for school outreach to the local community. Vocational teachers and students will be asked to collaborate with academic teachers and students and share ideas, knowledge and resources. Students will be required to identify and contact local resources and at the same time research through various means state, regional, national and global resources related to Derby activities. Disciplines involved with the project will include but not be limited to: agriscience, drafting, music, science, English, computer science, home economics, journalism, mathematics, social studies, economics, and business education.

The specific educational objectives for this project are to enable students to:

  • Understand and explain basic academic principles related to Derby activities.
  • Identify the potential impact of the Derby on society.
  • Seek factual information needed to analyze and solve problems.
  • Work together using the team concept of problem solving.
  • Apply academic skills to solve "real-life" problems.
  • Identify careers related to various Derby activities.

Instructional materials will include student driven activities designed for independent and group learning that encourage higher levels of creativity and problem solving. These activities will be designed to reinforce basic academic skills and provide opportunities for student teamwork in creative thinking and problem solving.

ORDER INFORMATION (pdf)

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This project is being directed by Dr. David Coffey at Western Kentucky University. Project sponsors include: Bertram N. Linder Foundation, Inc., Churchill Downs Incorporated, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, Grayson - Jockey Club Foundation, The Jockey Club Information Systems, Keeneland Association, Inc., Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Inc., Oak Tree Racing Association, Oxley Foundation, and United Thoroughbred Trainers Association, Inc.