Discovering Yourself, Discovering Your Future

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Discovering Yourself, Discovering Yourself, Discovering Your Future Discovering Your Future A Career Exploration Unit focusing on Higher Education for High School Students Developed by: Kristin Wilkin Applied Career Development Summer 2008 University of Central Florida

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Discovering Yourself, Discovering Your Future. A Career Exploration Unit focusing on Higher Education for High School Students. Developed by: Kristin Wilkin. Applied Career Development Summer 2008 University of Central Florida. Project Description. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Discovering Yourself, Discovering Your Future

Discovering Yourself, Discovering Discovering Yourself, Discovering Your FutureYour FutureA Career Exploration Unit focusing on Higher Education for High School Students

Developed by: Kristin Wilkin

Applied Career DevelopmentSummer 2008

University of Central Florida

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Project DescriptionProject DescriptionThis project was designed to help high

school students discover how their interests can connect to a future career and the higher education needed to get there. 

Through this unit students are able to explore a career that is of interest to them and then thoroughly research a program of interest at a post-secondary institution.

At the end they create a portfolio to demonstrate their learning and as a tool they may use in the future.

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Project NeedProject NeedCareer development is vitally important for

today’s youth, who are more than ever “motivated but directionless” (Schneider & Stevenson, 1999 as cited in Hughes & Karp, 2004).

Career development activities:Draw connections between academic work in

high school and a student’s future. Make academics more interesting and relevant

for students. Provide students with the necessary tools to set

career goals, and give them an understanding of the education and skills they need to meet their goals.

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Research to Support Research to Support ProgramProgram

High school students who took a career-decision making course had less career related indecision at the end of the course than did a comparison group (Savickas,1990). Participants also improved their long-term perspective as compared to the comparison group, meaning that the career course helped them understand the relationship between the present and the future, and to plan for and be motivated to achieve long-term goals (Hughes & Karp, 2004).

A study of a career exploration class for high school seniors found that participants increased their scores on an inventory of career orientation, indicating that they engaged in increased career planning and career exploration (O’Hara, 2000,).

Participants in a high school career course saw increases in both their career decision-making and vocational skills self-efficacy, indicating that they felt better able to make career-related decisions and perform career-related tasks than a comparison group, and these gains were maintained over time (McWhirter, Rasheed, & Crothers, 2000 as cited in Hughes & Karp, 2004).

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Target PopulationTarget PopulationThere are several target populations for which this program might be useful for. In marketing the program to administration, I will offer these options as target populations to consider.11th Grade at risk students through regular English classes

Incorporate into current Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) programs. AVID targets students in the academic middle — B, C, and even D students — who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard. 

As a standalone Career Development Class approved by the FLDOE available by counselor recommendation for at risk students (Career Research and Decision Making, Course # 1700380) http://data.fldoe.org/crsCode/912/Research%20and%20Critical%20Thinking/pdf/1700380.pdf

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Objectives of ProgramObjectives of ProgramAfter successfully completing this course/unit, the student will:

1) Identify and demonstrate use of the steps of systematic goal-setting and decision-making processes.

2) Demonstrate use of techniques for self-assessment to determine personal career interests and capabilities.

3) Demonstrate use of career resources to identify preferred occupational fields, career opportunities within each field, employment prospects, and education or training requirements.

4) Demonstrate appropriate writing, listening, viewing, and speaking skills needed to successfully apply for postsecondary education or work (e.g., writing a résumé, or essay; compiling a portfolio).

5) Demonstrate knowledge of varied types and sources of financial aid to obtain assistance for postsecondary education.

6) Develop a personal education and career plan.

7) Demonstrate use of strategies for identifying personal strengths and weaknesses and making improvements.

****These are the objectives for the Career Research and Decision Making Course approved by the Florida Department of Education

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ASCA National Standards ASCA National Standards for Career Developmentfor Career Development

Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.

C:A1: Develop Career Awareness

C:A2: Development Employment Readiness

Standard B: Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.

C:B1: Acquire Career Information

C:B2: Identify Career Goals

Standard C: Students will understand the relationship between personal qualitieis, education, training, and the world of work.

C:C1: Acquire Knowledge to Achieve Career Goals

C:C2: Apply Skills to Achieve Career Goals

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Budget- Budget- Based on Average Based on Average Class of 25Class of 25

***Costs may be offset by having students provide their own supplies and paying for their own printing.

Supplies Cost Per Item

Number per student

Total

Paper Portfolio $0.10 1 $0.10

Sheet Protectors $0.10 Approximately 20

$2.00

Writable CD $1.00 1 $1.00

Paper & Ink $0.15 Approximately 50

$7.50

Totals $10.60 per student

x. 25 students

$265.00 per class

In-Kind Costs

Use of computer lab Use of Printer

Software Choices Planner

Overhead/Proxima

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TimelineTimeline» August,-present project overview at Curriculum

Leaders’ Meeting» September- Follow up meeting to discuss

implementation plan» October- Pitch program to potential teachers» November-December- Work in teams to train

and to further develop program to meet needs» January- Implement Program

» Lessons are provided for 40 days, not including additional time for editing; Teachers may modify plans to fit into time allowance

» June- Meet with teachers for feedback

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Features of ProgramFeatures of ProgramContains complete lesson plans

including all materialsIs completely available through the

internetAligned to Sunshine State

Standards for Language Arts and National Standards for Technology

Aligned to ASCA standards for School Counselors

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Features of WebsiteFeatures of Website http://teacher.ocps.net/kristin.wilkin/Home%20Page.htm

Home page features an overview of the program

All lesson plans are on the internet and available in a printable document

All lesson materials are available through links

Student work samples are linked into the page

Many lessons include grading rubricsAdditional Ideas to extend the lesson are

offered

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Project ComponentsProject ComponentsI. Icebreaker: I Am.... Poem

II. The Importance of Higher Education

III. Interest Inventories

IV. My Life in 10 Years Map and Essay

V. Choices Planner Job Report

VI. Higher Education Research:  Create a Brochure

VII. College Admissions: Writing the Essay

VIII. Creating a Resume

IX. Scholarship and Financial Aid Research

X. Reflecting on Growth: Change Poem

XI. Putting it all Together:  Final Portfolio

XII. Project Evaluation

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Icebreaker: I am….PoemDescription:

An icebreaker allows you to get to know the students and for them to know each other. To increase awareness and encourage self-development, it is crucial to engage participants in activities which call for introspection and self-reflection. The I Am…Poem provides a way for students to reflect on who they are before beginning the project.

Assignment:Students create an autobiographical I am… Poem and share it with the class.

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The Importance of Higher EducationDescription:

In this lesson, students will learn about the importance of higher education and its relationship to future earnings and nonmonetary benefits. They will look at average earnings based on level of education. Data will also be disseminated various demographic data.

Assignment: Students examine graphs related to the importance of higher education, then in groups create posters to explain it to the class.

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Interest Inventory

Description:Before you can choose a major or a career you need to know yourself; your values, interests, personality and skills.  Students take the interest inventory on Choices Planner and learn about Holland’s codes.

Assignment:

Students complete the interest inventory on Choices Planner

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Life in 10 Years Map and Essay

Description:

Students imagine their life as they wish to see it in 10 years. They are asked to think beyond material possessions and think about what they value, who they would like to be, and the roles they will play in life.

Assignments:1)Students access their values through a game.2)Students create a circle map describing their life.3)Students develop the details from their map into an

essay describing their life in 10 years.

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Choices Planner Job ReportDescription:

Students often choose career interests without knowing many details about the chosen profession. This assignment gives students the opportunity to explore a career of interest.

Assignment:Students fill in a worksheet related to their career of interest.

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Higher Education Research

Description: Students have the opportunity to explore a post-secondary program at any school desired, including technical or specialty school, community college, private college, or university. The emphasis is on meeting the students goals and interests.

Through this assignment they will learn: Entrance Requirements Application Deadlines Courses Required for your program Tuition information Financial Aid Availability Contact Information for the School and Academic Area

Assignment:After completing research, students create a brochure about a major at a chosen school

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College Admissions: Writing the EssayDescription:

This lesson begins with an overview of the admissions process with a focus on the admission essay. Students have the opportunity to analyze actual admission essay before creating their own.

Assignment:Students write and revise an admission essay based on a common topic

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Creating a Resume

Description: For students to be prepared to enter the

world of work after high school, they will need to be able to create an effective resume. This lesson goes over the parts of a resume and tips for creating one before students create their own resume.

Assignment:Students write and revise a resume

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Scholarships and Financial Aid ResearchDescription:

This lesson starts with a PowerPoint overview about Financial Aid, including types of aid, the importance of the FAFSA, the process to receive aid, and websites to help students find scholarships.

Assignment: Students will use the internet to find 5 scholarships, grants, or federal programs that they qualify for.

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Reflecting on Growth: Reflecting on Growth: Change PoemChange PoemDescription: Reflection is important to growth and it is

important to give students the time to reflect on what they have learned and how they have changed as a result of the project.  The Change Poem follows a similar format as the I am.. Poem students wrote in the beginning of the unit.  By creating a new poem using the same format, they have come full circle and see how they may have changed as a result of the unit.

Assignment: Students will create a change poem to reflect their growth and future goals

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Putting it all Together: Final Putting it all Together: Final PortfolioPortfolioDescription:

Students will have the opportunity to create a portfolio with all the work they have completed. They will include all work related to the project including all assignments and important information from teacher presentations.

Assignment:Students create a portfolio with all lessons and work completed during unit.

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Additional Project IdeasAdditional Project IdeasTake students on a field trip to local schools,

including community colleges, tech centers, or universities.

Take students to the career center at your school if there is one.

There are many more types of interest inventories that may be of interest to your students.

Invite guest speakers with careers of interest to your students or with similar backgrounds.

Have students interview someone in the community who has a job they are interested in.

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ReferencesReferencesAmerican School Counselor Association (2004). ASCA National Standards for Students. Alexandria,

VA: Author. Retrieved July 25, 2008 from:

http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/NationalStandards.pdf

Baum, S. & Ma, J. (2007). Education pays the benefits of higher education for individuals and

society. Retrieved from the College Board on July 25, 2008 from:

http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/about/news_info/cbsenior/yr2007/ed-pays-

2007.pdf

Brown, D. (2007). Career information, career counseling, and career development. Chapel Hill, NC:

Pearson.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007). Labor force statistics from the current population survey.

Retrieved July 25, 2008 from: http://stats.bls.gov/cps/minwage2007.htm

Hughes, K. & Karp, M. (2004). School-based career development: A synthesis of the literature.

Retrieved from Columbia University on July 25, 2008 from:

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/iee/PAPERS/CareerDevelopment02_04.pdf

Kaufman, D., Dowhan, C. & Dowhan, A. (2003) Essays that will get you into college. Hauppauge, NY:

Barrons.

Petersons (2008). Teens’ guide to college & career planning. Lawrenceville, NJ: Author.

Stevenson, K. (2002). Connecting personality to career clusters. Retrieved from Utah Education

Network on July 25, 2008: http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=327

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Contact InformationContact Information

Please contact me with any questions:

Kristin WilkinWinter Park High School528 Huntington Ave.Winter Park, FL [email protected]@yahoo.com407-623-1476 x. 411