Key points:
For the past three years, I have worked as a Digital Integration Specialist for Anderson School District 5 in South Carolina. In this role, I support educators by providing high-quality learning opportunities through innovative educational technology integration. One of the schools I serve is a Career and Technical Education high school, and I am always looking for new tools to prepare these students for their future careers.
According to a study conducted by ECMC GroupEighty-one percent of high school students surveyed said that learning the skills they need to succeed in the real world is a top criterion for choosing a path after graduation. But there is a disconnect between what students know they want to learn and what they learn. Your science A survey found that 83 percent of today’s students can’t relate the skills they have and learn in school to future employment. Many students simply don’t have access to industry professionals to gain insight into the careers they are interested in and understand what skills and abilities are necessary for those fields. This can lead to thinking that pursuing that career in the future is impossible.
With this in mind, I work to provide students with career-focused learning opportunities that encourage them to be curious about different careers. Here are some tools I love to use and have found effective with my students:
Professional connection
I was invited to participate in the Discovery Education pilot project. Professional connection during the 2023-2024 school year (and I’m happy to report that it’s now open to the 4.5 million educators who use Discovery Education). Through Career Connect, students connect with working industry professionals to learn about career paths and what it’s like to work in the field. Teachers can virtually connect students with industry professionals to talk about their careers, the concepts they use to solve problems, and the path they’ve taken to get to where they are today.
Career Connect offers educators a wide variety of industry professionals to choose from, including software engineers, microbiologists, analysts, and financial planners, among many others. For example, I worked with our computer science teacher to choose a professional that fit her curriculum and submit an application through the Career Connect platform. Students were able to connect virtually with a software engineer and a VP of IT at a technology company.
But it’s not just about the connection with the professional. I help make the learning stick by using ready-to-use worksheets. With this resource, students are asked to share three things they learned, two things they can do to prepare for their future, and one way the speaker inspired them. At the end of both conversations, students had the opportunity to ask questions and have a meaningful conversation with the professional.
A day in the life
A day in the life is a free digital archive of first-hand written accounts of what it’s like to work in a specific field or position. Students will be able to find jobs that reflect their interests and get excited about their future. From social media manager to oncology nurse manager to lead video game animator, there are countless different career paths to explore.
These blogs are snippets of a day in the life of these industry professionals. Each is time-stamped, from the moment the professional starts work that day until he or she returns home. Some articles provide additional information about the responsibilities of their role, such as explanations of research conducted by an entry-level biotechnology scientist, before moving on to a description of a typical day.
Students can explore a wide range of careers related to their current interests through these short, easy-to-understand articles. The standardized format, regardless of industry, makes the knowledge accessible and engaging, allowing students to quickly dive into a wide range of possible careers.
Forage: Free virtual work experiences
Forage offers free job simulations that expose students to a wide range of careers and skills. Through partnerships with top companies, students gain a unique perspective on what it would be like to be an industry professional. Industries range from marketing to software engineering, with popular companies like JP Morgan and Lululemon offering job simulations. This is a great tool for students looking to develop industry-related skills and explore real-life projects.
These short, self-paced, open-access lessons guide students through a variety of tasks, giving them insight into the company and developing the skills needed to fill this role. Students follow along with video and text resources and compare their answers and projects to real-life company results. For example, Lululemon explores omnichannel marketing and guides students through creating integrated marketing plans and key data analysis tasks.
My advice: Just start!
Planning a career path can be overwhelming for students, especially if they don’t feel like they have the connections or skills needed to enter the job market. Forging connections between students and industry professionals is key to opening their eyes to future possibilities. These resources are a great way to encourage your students to consider different career paths, giving them access to key professionals and skill-building opportunities. So, now the challenge is simply getting started.
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