iBb Description

Inside Berks Business is an internship that partners Berks county educators with local businesses. The program gives educators the opportunity to observe a business and determine the skills needed to be successful within the organization. Using this knowledge, teachers can incorporate these skills into the classroom and better prepare students for their future careers.

Business DescriptionGreater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-profit organization devoted to the tourism industry of Berks County. The entire team works extremely hard to promote local businesses and travel destinations and bring visitors into the area.

SummaryDuring my time at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, I had the opportunity to shadow several employees, including the president of the organization, and observe the many responsibilities of each individual. Some of the key takeaways from my observations include:

• Rebranding• Social media usage• Building and maintaining community relationships

Educational Skill RequirementsThe majority of full-time employees had a bachelors degree in various majors, including communications and graphic design. The few who did not have a bachelors degree had many years of formal training instead.

In addition to the full-time employees, there were three interns from the local universities all with diverse backgrounds. Each intern had a different area of focus, which related to their field of study.

Salary and Benefits

• Receptionist • Hourly position, ranges from $13-$17 per hour

• Professional Staff • Yearly salary ranges from $40,000-$60,000

• Executive Staff • Yearly salary ranges from $90,000-$120,000

*Health benefits are available through the organization as well.

Greatest Asset

The greatest asset for the Visitors Bureau is its staff. Each individual is dedicated to bringing visitors to the many, wonderful attractions our area has to offer. They are a creative, hard working, and supportive group of people. The entire staff works together to assist one another in any possible way.

TechnologyFrom creating newsletters to promoting businesses on social media, technology plays a large role in the day to day business.

• Microsoft Office and emails• Newsletters and software• Social media

• Instagram: Gogreaterreading• Facebook: Greater Reading Visitors Bureau

• Website design

Greatest Challenge

The greatest challenge for the Visitors Bureau is funding. Competitors such as Lehigh and Lancaster are working with budgets that are significantly larger. The organization works hard to address the situation by marketing advertisement packages to the local businesses.

Skills Required of Students• Interpersonal skills• Understanding of advertising and persuasion tactics• Well versed in written communication (i.e. tone, conventions, mechanics)• Navigating, designing, and publishing on assorted sites and software• Research and data analysis• Time management• Knowing one’s audience

Project Abstract (1)• In fifth grade Social Studies, students learn about westward expansion of the

United States. During the unit, we discuss advertisements used to attract people to the west. Many of the skills identified previously can be reinforced during this part of the curriculum.

• Show students several examples of authentic advertisements for westward expansion. Discuss the appeal of each one. What in the ad enticed the settlers to come? Who is the target audience?

• Break students up into groups and assign each one a trail (Santa Fe, Mormon, Oregon, or California). As a team, students will work together to research their trail, determine their target audience, and create their own modern, video advertisement for the trail.

• Final presentations will be presented by the groups to the rest of the class.

Project Abstract (2)• One unit in fifth grade Language Arts is persuasive writing. Each writing unit

ends with a post assessment. This activity would be the post-assessment.• Students will choose one attraction in Berks County that they believe is the

best location to visit. For homework the night before the assessment, they will be able to research facts about their chosen destination in order to be familiar with it.

• On the day of the assessment, students will use their knowledge of persuasive writing and facts found for homework to convince the reader that their chosen location is the best tourist site of Berks County. They will be given 45 minutes to complete the writing piece.

• The completed piece will be graded according to the fifth grade writing rubric for the Units of Study program.

Standards• Career Standards

• 13.2.5 Apply appropriate speaking and listening techniques used in conversation. Apply to daily activities, the essential workplace skills, such as, communication, time management, and technology.

• 13.3.5 Explain the importance of working cooperatively with others. Identify effective group interaction strategies, such as, listening to others and communicating effectively

• Social Studies Standards• 8.3.5B Illustrate concepts and knowledge of historical documents, artifacts, and places critical

to U.S. history.• 8.3.5D Examine patterns of conflict and cooperation among groups that impacted the history

and development of the U.S.• Language Arts Standards

• CC.1.4.5.G Write opinion pieces on topics or texts.• CC.1.4.5.H Introduce the topic and state an opinion on the topic.• CC.1.4.5.I Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details; draw from credible sources.• CC.1.4.5.J Create an organizational structure that includes related ideas grouped to support the

writer’s purpose.