Contextual Learning Portal

College and Career Exploration

Project TitleCollege and Career Exploration
ThemeExploring your future options
Submitted ByJaime Hamilton/Michele Boyer-Vivori
OrganizationDrury High School
Summer STEPS Program
Brief DescriptionAt-risk students transitioning from eighth grade to ninth grade developing college and career readiness skills.
Materials / ResourcesComputer/MASS CIS Database/Business Cards
Your Plan for the Future Website/Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (tour) and website
Team membersMichele Boyer-Vivori/Jaime Hamilton
STEPS Staff
Pre-requisite knowledgeBasic computer knowledge
Technical support neededComputer
Any modifications or extensions for particular student populations?None needed

Key QuestionsAs a 9th grader, how can I prepare to be more college and career ready? What skills are necessary to become college and career ready?
Connections: How or why was this topic identified? Why is it meaningful?This topic was identified due to the at-risk population based on grades and test scores, and the need for an introduction of college and career basics.
Background Research: What resources were used to find background information for this project?Resources included local college admissions office and former students who are successful in the business community. In addition, the website www.yourplanforthefuture.com was used as well as Mass CIS.
Outcomes: What was the outcome? How was it shared or applied in the community?Students gained valuable knowledge of local businesses and careers that may be of interest to them. They were also exposed to a college campus and admissions process.
Family: Any opportunities to involve parent/guardians and other family members in this project?Parents/guardians were invited to a Service Fair and celebration where they were able to see work completed by students and their projects within the community.

College Visit - 1 hourStudents visit local college (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) to take a tour, meet with admissions representative and have a Q & A with staff.Walking tour/No materials needed
Your Plan for the Future - 30 minutesStudents will be introduced to the "Your Plan for the Future" website and will create an account. From there, they will explore the options available to them and work through some of the activities.Computers/School ID # to create account/Can be done in small groups or one on one
Career Exploration -1 hourStudents will complete the PAR SDS (Self Directed Search) and come up with a list of 3 careers and identify one that they are interested in. They then created a business card for that career.Computers/SDS booklet/Business Cards
Guest SpeakersFormer Drury graduates came in to speak with students in a "round robin" type setting to introduce them to their careers. Students were able to ask questions in a small setting and then had the opportunity to share with the group the answers to their questions.Guest speakers/List of sample questions for students
View/Download File: /project379_0098/STEPS 2013.doc
Career Pathways GameStudents in groups of 4 were given a packet of careers and the different career pathways. They had to decide as a group which career matched to which pathway.List of careers/List of pathways
View/Download File: /project379_0098/STEPS- Career Game

Hands-on ExposureCollege visit, Career Pathways Game, Career Speakers
Group DiscussionCareer Pathways Game, Introduction of Your Plan for the Future, Report out from guest speakers
ResearchResearch career choices, research graphics for business cards
Student DirectedQuestions on college tour, questions to guest speakers, creation of yourplanforthefuture account
Web SearchYour Plan for the Future website, CollegeBoard website, MASS CIS, Business cards

Oral PresentationPresented answers to questions that they asked during guest speakers
DiscussionPrior to guest speaker, after college visit, prior to MASS CIS and SDS
Informal sharingWalking around college campus, while working through the yourplanforthefuture website

Direct website link to this project: http://ContextualLearningPortal.org/contextual.asp?projectnumber=379.0098

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