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Outreach for K-12

Electrical Technology Center, Rm. 136 · (570) 320-8003

Governor's Institute for Career Education and Work

Grades K-4    Grades 5-6    Grades 7-8    Grades 9-12
 

Governor’s Institute for
Career Education and Work Activity
by Julie Arcelus, Patricia Donner
and Juanita Dymszo


Word Document
   
Title

How Can I Test Out an Occupational Interest?
Standards Addressed 13.1.11. C Evaluate opportunities for career preparation.
  • Cooperative education
  • Internship
  • Job shadowing
  • Part-time employment
  • Registered apprenticeship
  • School-based enterprise
  • Volunteer experience
1.6.11. A Listen to others.
  • Ask clarifying questions.
  • Synthesize information, ideas and opinions to determine relevancy.
  • Take notes.
1.6.11. D Contribute to discussions.
  • Ask relevant, clarifying questions.
  • Listen to and acknowledge the contributions of others.
  • Introduce relevant, facilitating information, ideas and opinions to enrich the discussion.
1.5.11. C Write with controlled and/or subtle organization.
  • Sustain a logical order throughout the piece.
  • Include an effective introduction and conclusion.
Brief Overview Students will be able to use a variety of practical methods to further investigate occupational interests.
Grade Level 11th
Content Area(s) Career Development, Social Studies
Other standards supported ASCA, PSCA, NCDG
Prep Time 30-60 minutes (contacting resource people for enhancement activities)
Implementation Time One 45-minute session (with enhancements, this could be a 3 day unit)
Learning Objectives
  • Students will list possible primary methods (as opposed to secondary) to test out an occupational interest, determining which method(s) is/are most appropriate for various occupations.
  • Students will be aware of and follow the steps necessary to access particular investigative methods.
Materials Needed Chalk/chalkboard, marker/whiteboard, marker/newsprint
Detailed Activity Steps
  1. Brainstorm/record practical methods that can be used to further test out occupational interests.
  2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method in regard to information gained about particular occupations.
  3. Complete a written matching activity that causes the students to link particular occupations with beneficial test methods, i.e., nursing with volunteerism, masonry with registered apprenticeship, radiography with job shadowing, politician with internship.
Theory basis Trait and Factor Theory
Evaluation/Assessment Discussion, matching activity, (if enhancements are included, written reflection with think/pair/share)
Comments As background, access and read the resources.  Determine ahead which testing out methods are most appropriate for a variety of occupations.  It is likely that more than one method is appropriate for each occupation.
Enhancement Activities
  1. Invite a career counselor, CareerLink representative, and/or employers to talk with the students about experiential or testing out opportunities available to them at various places of business.
  2. Invite seniors or recent graduates who took advantage of testing out methods in making their occupational choices to share their experiences with the current juniors.  How were the experiences arranged?  What were the positives and negatives of the experiences?  What advice would they provide?
Adaptation for at risk kids Responses to the matching activity could be made orally.
Resources