Career Education Nuts and Bolts

Transcription

1 Career Education Nuts and Bolts California After School Resource Center (C.A.S.R.C.) Administered for the California Department of Education (C.D.E.) Welcome to the Career Education Nuts and Bolts training. This training was developed with funding from the California Department of Education After School Division. Since formal career technical education is sometimes only available to middle and high school students in the school day, this training is designed for educators who wish to contribute to students career readiness at any point in their education. This module offers an overview of career education and provides ideas to build career readiness. For further assistance preparing students for the workforce after this module, please take the Career Readiness Tools online training. This module will take about 30 minutes to complete, so let's get started! 1

2 Objectives 1. Understand the purpose, importance, and progression of career technical education. 2. Obtain ideas for building career education, including ways to engage the community. 3. Access high-quality resources to support students with career education. By the end of this training, you will be able to: 1. Understand the purpose, importance, and progression of career technical education. 2. Obtain ideas for building career education, including ways to engage the community. 3. Access high-quality resources to support students with career education. Generally, career technical education refers to organized programs offering specialized coursework to prepare students for college and careers. Because this training is designed to help educators support students in building basic career readiness, it refers simply to career education as an overarching term that may be applied to after school, regardless of where a program may be in the continuum of career technical education. 2

3 The Purpose of Career Education The goal of career education is to better prepare students for college, work, and a lifetime of learning. Most occupations require that workers combine a variety of skills, including academic, social, and technical skills. The goal of career education is to better prepare students for college, work, and a lifetime of learning. Most occupations require that workers combine a variety of skills, including academic, social, and technical skills. If you are an educator, you are very likely to have heard this question from students: Why do I have to learn this? Some students do not quite understand how basic academic skills contribute to their learning and prepare them to be productive members of society. The connection between what students learn in reading, mathematics, science, or history the core academic subjects is seldom clear without specific examples of how these skills are applied in the real world. Students benefit from and often enjoy learning about how adults actually use academic skills at work. Go ahead and explain how important it is to write a clear memo, to understand the directions to a project, or to stay within a budget at work. For more information about critical skills needed at work, please remember to continue to the Career Readiness Tools online training module after completing this training. 3

4 The Importance of Career Education Educational programs offering coursework to prepare students for employment are important because they: Help to position the country for the global market. Build academic and job-related skills. Emphasize higher education. Use technology and cyberspace as key resources. Educational programs offering coursework to prepare students for paid and unpaid employment in current and emerging occupations are important because they: Help to position the country for the global market, Build academic and job-related skills, Emphasize higher education, and Use technology and cyberspace as key resources. Many school programs may or may not be able to offer comprehensive career technical education programs, but any amount of career education they offer can help students to plan for the future more effectively. The remainder of this training provides ideas, resources, and information to contribute to the goals on this slide. 4

5 Fifteen Industry Sectors 1. Agriculture and Natural Resources 2. Arts, Media, and Entertainment 3. Building Trades and Construction 4. Education, Child Development, and Family Services 5. Energy and Utilities 6. Engineering and Design 7. Fashion and Interior Design 8. Finance and Business 9. Health Science and Medical Technology 10. Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation 11. Information Technology 12. Manufacturing and Product Development 13. Marketing, Sales, and Service 14. Public Services 15. Transportation If you are interested in starting a formal career technical education program and need more information, there is an important resource provided by the C.D.E. Designed for students in grades seven through twelve, the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards is a framework that presents the standards for career education in great detail. In addition to the information about career options, this framework also incorporates academic and technical standards related to specific careers. The standards are organized in 15 industry sectors of related occupations, each with two or more career pathways for students to learn more about. The industry sectors are listed on this slide. A hard copy of the framework is available from the California After School Resource Center library or downloadable at the C.D.E. Web site. 5

6 Career Pathways Each of the 15 Industry Sectors is further subdivided into multiple Career Pathways, which are education and training programs designed to help students obtain a job or advance in a specific industry or occupation. This excerpt from the Career Technical Education Framework shows several Industry Sectors with their respective Career Pathways. High schools and colleges offer specialized courses designed to help students obtain skills leading to these career pathways or options. It is important for students to have a sense of which Industry Sector or Career Pathway they may be interested in so they can begin preparing for the future as soon as possible. 6

7 Level 1: Career Awareness Goal: To help students gain exposure and awareness about the various types of jobs that exist. Target Grade Levels Elementary and above (K-12) Sample Activities Guest speakers Career day Interview with professionals Career education can be done in sequential steps based on your students ages, needs, and familiarity with this field. After school programs provide an excellent setting to provide career education since they have some flexibility and options with regard to what is taught to their students. Let s examine the progression of career education, starting with career awareness. At this beginning level, the goal is to help students gain exposure and awareness about the various types of jobs that exist. Sample activities may include inviting guest speakers, hosting a career day, and interviewing professionals, such as relatives or family friends. These activities all engage the community in career education, and also provide great opportunities to build partnerships at the local level for after school programs. 7

8 Engage the Community Guest speakers bring to life interesting aspects related to their careers, and entertain questions from students in a small-group setting or classroom. They serve as great role models. By contrast, career days are more elaborate and often involve the entire school site with guests from the local community, as well as various organizations and/or businesses that participate in any number of events planned by the organizers. By interviewing professionals they know, students get to learn about their careers, and the kinds of skills they apply in their daily work. They can interview relatives or trusted family friends with adult guidance and/or supervision. All of these ideas engage the community and represent great ways to build partnerships with the after school program. 8

9 Level 2: Career Orientation Goal: To help students understand the knowledge and skills required by various careers. Target Grade Levels Sample Activities Upper elementary and middle school (4-8) Games/simulations DVDs Career education curricula Career orientation aims to help upper-elementary and middle school students understand the knowledge and skills required by various careers. This is a bit more in-depth than building career awareness, so engaging in games or simulations, viewing career DVDs, and using career education curricula are appropriate activities for learning about career options. 9

10 Career Orientation Resources The grow up. Get a Job resource uses a teen-friendly format to teach students how their interests and abilities can be used to choose career paths. Students also learn about résumé writing, interviewing, and appropriate behavior in the workplace. The Real Game California introduces teens to career self-management competencies by simulating the role of an adult worker to experience the many challenges and opportunities of the working world. Students use role-playing and interactive activities to explore what it is like to hold a job, and the link between their education and future. With BizWorld, students create and operate a simulated business. The Junior Achievement program teaches financial literacy and business skills to students. These resources are available for loan with free delivery in California from the California After School Resource Center. You will be able to access these resources at the end of this module. 10

11 Level 3: Career Exploration Goal: To help students fully explore career options and make tentative career goals. Target Grade Levels Sample Activities Middle school (6-8) Work-related field trips Interest/aptitude assessments Career maps The goal of career exploration is to help middle school students fully explore career options and make tentative career goals. The activities here involve more in-depth career research, such as taking work-related field trips, taking interest or aptitude assessments, and creating career maps. 11

12 Work-Related (Industry) Field Trips By taking a field trip to a local business, students get to learn about the different career options available in their own community, and gain a greater understanding of the role of industry in their surroundings. Field trips also represent another way to create partnerships with the after school program. Businesses often welcome this opportunity to showcase their contribution to the world, and to perform a community service. 12

13 Student Self-Assessments Career planning begins with helping students identify their: Interests Personalities Strengths Ambitions #7948 #9090 Career planning begins with helping students identify their interests, personalities, strengths, and ambitions. The Prepared for Work, Ready for Life resource is divided into three units: Job and Career Preparation, Job Seeking, and Essential Life Skills. In the first unit, students self-assess their interests and aspirations, create a career roadmap, and begin setting career goals. The What Type of Person Am I? Personality and Careers (DVD) uses teen-friendly terms to describe how the six personality types from the Holland Hexagon model can be used to make sound career decisions. You will be able to access these resources and a Holland Hexagon Handout at the end of this module. 13

14 Level 4: Career Preparation Goal: To help students begin to develop and implement a plan or program of study to meet career goals. Target Grade Levels High school (9-12) Sample Activities Internships Part-time work Career guidance College preparatory courses Portfolios High school students engaged in career preparation begin to develop and implement a plan or program of study to meet career goals. Participating in internships, getting a part-time job, seeking career guidance, and taking college preparatory courses are essential activities to steer them in the right direction. Most highly motivated students will voluntarily engage in one or more of these recommended activities. Some high-achieving students are likely to be one step ahead of the rest, and have their college applications ready and submitted early. However, the students who need career preparation the most those who may be unmotivated, under-performing, lacking English proficiency, dealing with learning disabilities, overwhelmed with personal problems, or simply stuck in survival mode usually lack opportunities to engage in these activities for a variety of reasons. It is especially important to reach out to students in need, and to offer resources, guidance, and opportunities for them to think about life beyond high school. 14

15 Career Preparation Resources 1. The StudentLoans Web site provides access to federal financial aid resources. 2. California State University's Early Assessment Program helps to assess and prepare high school students for college. 3. The MyPlan Web site offers a database about careers, colleges, and majors. Students who need support to engage in career preparation may also need additional attention from authority figures, mentors, and educators to make career plans. Some students question their ability to succeed academically for a variety of reasons. Maybe they doubt their capacity to do well in college, especially if they have struggled in school before. Maybe they need financial support to pay for higher education. Maybe they just do not know their strengths and aptitudes, and need an extra push for self-confidence. Whatever the case might be, there are various professional and governmentsponsored organizations to help those students without a plan beyond high school. This slide shows three excellent resources for college preparation. At the end of this training, you will be able to access these and other resources to help students make career plans. However, please keep in mind that research suggests that one of the key factors in inspiring students to succeed is having a mentor, someone they can look up to, rely on, and go to for help. 15

16 What s in a High School Portfolio? # Personal information 2. Goals and history 3. Values 4. Accomplishments and job history 5. Skills and attributes 6. Education and training 7. Evaluations and recommendations 8. Reference materials As students engage in career preparation, they can begin a portfolio, which should have the contents listed on this slide: 1. Personal information 2. Goals and history 3. Values 4. Accomplishments and job history 5. Skills and attributes 6. Education and training 7. Evaluations and recommendations 8. Reference materials Portfolio contents can be kept as hard or soft copies, or a combination of both. A portfolio should be secured to avoid loss or identity theft if it contains sensitive data, like a social security or driver s license number. Having an up-to-date portfolio is handy when it comes to completing college and/or job applications, or interviewing. 16

17 Prepare Students for Life After High School Take college tours. Examine other postsecondary options. The reality is that many students reach the end of high school without a solid plan for the future. Some will seek higher education at a four-year college or university, but many do not consider this as an option. Students who are not considering college should be encouraged to examine other postsecondary options, such as attending a vocational school or seeking specialized experience in the labor market. They should also know research suggests that college-educated workers earn more and are likely to live more satisfying lives. By visiting colleges, students get a first-hand look at college life. They can experience what it may be like to attend college, and how they might fit in. They can obtain information about major offerings and services available on campus, and get a better sense of what they need to do to prepare to apply for admission. After school programs benefit from creating partnerships with local colleges or universities to inspire youths by connecting them with role models and mentors already attending there. Making these connections and fostering mentoring relationships for students can go a long way in helping them plan for academic achievement in college. 17

18 Level 5: Career Specialization Goal: To help position students for in-depth preparation for a career. Target Grade Levels Sample Activities Postsecondary (12+) College or vocational coursework Paid/unpaid experience Mentoring The goal of career specialization is to help position students for in-depth preparation for a career. Students who reach this level may engage in college or vocational coursework, get paid or unpaid experience on the job, receive mentoring, and have a career plan in place. 18

19 Career Center Assessments Counseling Resources Job openings and more A career center is a place that offers career assessments, counseling, resources, and information for students to put their career plans in action. It is a centralized location for prospective employers, career counselors, and job seekers to connect. Career centers may also offer classes or seminars related to specific industry sectors or career pathways. Career centers are most commonly found in colleges to help students with career specialization. However, some high schools also offer career centers or related services, such as help with the admissions process, financial aid, and career planning. 19

20 Case Scenario You are interested in doing career education. What are some activities you can incorporate to help students plan for their future? Note: Answers will vary. Now let s pause to consider this case scenario: You are interested in doing career education. Based on this training, what are some activities you can incorporate to help students plan for their future? Note that answers will vary. 20

21 Sample Responses Host career days. Invite guest speakers. Interview professionals. Take work-related field trips. Have students explore their interests, personalities, and aspirations. Take college tours. Use career education resources. Here are some sample responses: Host career days. Invite guest speakers. Interview professionals. Take work-related field trips. Have students explore their interests, personalities, and aspirations. Take college tours. Use career education resources. Remember not to get overwhelmed. Start small and let students have fun while they are exploring information about career options. The key here is to inspire and be resourceful with career education. 21

22 Wrap-Up In this training, you learned: That the purpose of career education is to prepare students for college, work, and a lifetime of learning. That career education includes career awareness, orientation, exploration, preparation, and specialization. That activities to support career readiness include career days, guest speakers, interviews with professionals, college tours, and more. That a variety of career education resources are available from the C.A.S.R.C. In this training, you learned: That the purpose of career education is to prepare students for college, work, and a lifetime of learning. That career education includes career awareness, orientation, exploration, preparation, and specialization. That activities to support career readiness include career days, guest speakers, interviews with professionals, college tours and more. That a variety of career education resources are available from the California After School Resource Center. 22

23 Thank You Congratulations! You have reached the end of the Career Education Nuts and Bolts training. You will now have the opportunity to take a quiz to test the knowledge you have acquired in this training. If you receive a passing score, a completion certificate will be ed to you at the address you provided. If you don t receive a passing score, you will have the opportunity to take the quiz again at any time. Following the quiz, you will be asked to complete a brief feedback survey. After you complete the survey, you will be able to access the accompanying handouts, sample California After School Resource Center library resources, and additional information about career education. You may start the quiz by selecting the quiz link. Thank you for your participation! 23