BIRMINGHAM – 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 is being released today 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 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,” Cleveland said.

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.  

The e-book was conceived and developed by Big Communications, a Birmingham-based full-service advertising and public relations agency specializing in digital and content creation, media strategy, grassroots marketing and promotions. The agency’s diverse client list includes national, regional and local companies with an emphasis on healthcare, education, workforce development, economic development, tourism and Southern brands.

Helping to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges is a key component of the Alabama Power Foundation’s Brighter Minds education initiative. To learn more about Brighter Minds and the Alabama Power Foundation, please visit www.powerofgood.com.

To learn more about Go Build Alabama, please visit www.gobuildalabama.com.