# Authentic Learning Experiences for Every Student with Dr. Mark Covelle

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/college-career-readiness-radio-7075667/authentic-learning-experiences-for-every-student-with-dr-mark-covelle
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/college-career-readiness-radio-7075667/authentic-learning-experiences-for-every-student-with-dr-mark-covelle.md
Podcast: [College & Career Readiness Radio](https://stenobird.com/podcast/college-career-readiness-radio-7075667)
Published: 2026-04-14T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/college-and-career-readiness-radio/2732189
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/292064/2732189/college-and-career-readiness-radio/2026_04_13_18_36_45_e28e393f-e531-4dad-8c07-88f7d53f80b4.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2114

## Resource

Our guest for this episode of College & Career Readiness Radio is Dr. Mark Covelle, Administrative Director of Middle Bucks Institute of Technology and a Founding Member of the CTE Collective. Mark says that interest in CTE has surged post-COVID because hands-on, authentic learning could not be replicated online. The skilled trades gap has added further momentum nationally. He notes that in CTE, students practice — they work on real brakes, deploy real safety equipment, and build real things. Traditional classrooms more often ask students to pretend . Kids know the difference, and it affects their engagement. His school serves 1,000 students across 21 career programs and issued over 1,500 industry-recognized credentials last year — roughly 1.5 per student. These credentials are portable, tangible evidence of skill beyond a transcript. Business and industry partners tell Mark the biggest gaps in young workers are persistence (stalling when stuck), communication, and general professionalism. MBIT grades students on employability weekly — resumes, interviewing, professional conduct, and workplace interaction are all part of the curriculum. Mark believes that every K-12 school should have an internship program. Students need professional feedback at 18, not 24. Even virtual or industry-problem-based experiences count. Getting that feedback earlier — with educator support — changes outcomes. Mark and TJ discuss how authentic problems can live in any classroom. An English problem-solution paper can be drawn from a real local business challenge. A student who needs math to complete an engineering project will learn that math. Purpose drives motivation. Mark tells a story about involving students in school branding. MBIT's "ambition" identity came from a student who notice…

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## Transcript

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