Career
Exploration
by Kathy Campopiano, Nathan Bishop Middle School
ISSUE:
Students need to be active and effective in planning for postsecondary
education. Students need to be aware of the effective choices and the
decision-making process to select courses in middle and high school to
achieve their goals.
OVERVIEW:
Students will participate in listing many career choices. Each student
will have a Career Interest Inventory and discussion of the results. Each
student will research a career and explore the educational requirements
of that career. Students will use at least three resources to complete
a poster board to describe the educational courses important to attaining
their career choices.
Task 1 (1 day) Brainstorm in groups of four to list careers. Students can use parents, teachers, the library, newspapers, etc., for additional choices to add to the original list.
Task 2 (1 day) Participate in taking a career-interest inventory.
Task 3 (1 day) Discussion of inventory results. Handouts to describe the poster the student will make and present in class. Teacher will give very clear directions to complete this project.
Task 4 (1 day) Class time to explore the selected career. Computers and other resources in the library can be used as well as additional resources in the classroom.
Task 5 (1 day) Students will begin to organize their material for presentation. (Poster boards, markers, glue, and stencils will be available). Each student will complete his or her project at home with parental involvement.
Task 6 (2 days) Presentation of posters in class. Posters will be evaluated based on a general rubric.
Planning for the Future: Career and College Choices
A
COMPUTER WORKSHOP
FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
by Anne McLaughlin, West Warwick Public Library
HEADNOTE:
James Maconochie, a teacher at McCall Middle School in Winchester, Massachusetts,
highly recommends this lesson:
The following lesson is general enough to be used by teachers of any discipline who wish to encourage their students to consider college in the middle school or high school years. Teaching career planning in class is even a way to encourage students to consider pursuing our own fine career of teaching. Students often need to be shown the tie between what they are studying and various career options that will open to them after college and, perhaps, graduate school.GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Students and their parents will be introduced to helpful Web sites in two one-hour sessions in the library Computer Lab. These sites will help them get started on making choices in planning for their future. Web sites will help students focus on making goals and creating a personal plan based on information available about planning for college, financial aid and scholarship sources. The session is limited to twelve participants. Registration is required.
PROCEDURE:
Students and parents will sit in pairs, but work independently at their
own computers. Participants will fill out a pre-survey on their interests,
goals and expectations for the future. The instructor will direct participants
in connecting to the links below after opening Word. Selected links will
be interactive. At the final session, each participant will fill out an
evaluation based on how helpful each felt the sessions were.
PRE-SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE:
- What level of education have you completed?
- What level of education would you like to complete?
- What was your earliest career/job goal?
- What is your current career/job goal?
- Where would you like to attend college?
- What do you plan on doing in the next six months to work toward your career and college goals?
- Have you ever looked on the Internet for career or college information?
Overview of what is available on Web sites to determine interests and available career
choices and thoughts about college.
What are your interests?
Self-Exploration:
Match your interests, skills,
and abilities
Making
a Career Choice:
How Do
I Decide On a Career?
Career Key
Beyond High School: Is the
military an option?
Resources
on Careers:
Occupational Outlook Handbook
College
Planning:
Timeline
for College Planning
Preparing for College: A Guide for Students and
Families
Why College? Why Not?
SESSION
TWO:
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Looking at Web sites which focus on taking the SAT, scholarships, listings
of colleges, applying to colleges, looking for employment, creating a
resume.
SAT
Sample
SAT questions
2001 Colleges, Universities
and Scholarships Page
Listing of Colleges
Financial Aid Resources
Career and Job Hunting
Resources
Rhode
Island Resources
RI Colleges
Rhode Island Opportunity Programs
EVALUATION:
- How helpful do you feel this session was in helping you become more aware of web resources on career and college choices?
- Do you want to return to some of these Web sites on your own to explore them further?
- What is your education goal?
- What is your career goal?
- What do you plan on doing in the next 6 months toward your career and college goals?
Why
College?? Why Not!! | Thinking
Ahead about College | Finding
a Career
RI Postsecondary Education Resources |
Choosing a College
Listings of Colleges |
Financial
Aid/Scholarships | SAT
or ACT Preparation
RI Opportunity Programs
| Resources for Educators
Home | What's New | Feedback
Rhode
Island Office of Higher Education
Academic and Student Affairs
50 Holden St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-6560
Web site developed
in December 1998 by Phyllis
Harnick and Timothy S. Chace
Site last updated September 2003
by Michol Stapel
