Teen Living Project

Rayn Galloway
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN
Advisor Dr. Melinda Swafford

Course: Teen Living
Project: Career Explorations
Descriptor:
Teen Living students will be introduced to career paths. The activities can be used on an individual basis or together over an extended period of time.
National Standards: 3.0, 3.1, 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1, 7.0, 7.1, 8.0, 8.1, 9.0, 9.1, 10.0, 10.1, 11.0, 11.1, 16.0, and 16.1.
TN FACS Standards: 2.0, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3.
Gateway Connections: Algebra 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0; English 1.0; and History 6.0.

Activities

1. Kuder Career Assessment

Summary: In Tennessee students in the 8th grade select a high school pathway: Technical, College or Dual. The Kuder Career Planning System is a skills assessment program which aids students in determining what jobs interest them.

Directions: Teachers must register with the Kuder Career Planning System before students may register. Students must register individually using the access code provided to the teacher. Assessments do not have to be completed at one time, and students may log in and out as needed. Finishing the assessments is crucial. Once the students have completed the assessments, they should chose one career from the lists provided by the Kuder Career Planning System. This career will be used throughout the project. (Teachers may choose to limit the number of people can choose the same career.)

Website: www.planningyourdreams.org

2. Career Exploration

Summary: A career exploration will be conducted using the one selected from the Kuder Career Planning System.

Directions: Have students use the internet to answer questions about the career. This could be a web quest or simply a web search. (These questions may be used to fill in information in later activities.) Have students find five interesting facts about the career, as well as the history of the profession. Students should locate salaries for the profession on three different websites and determine the average salary by adding the three and divide by three. Ask the students to create a graph for the salary information. As the students research, have them create a Works Cited Page.

Handout: Career Exploration Questions (Word Document)

3. Self-Discovery

Summary: This activity will allow students to evaluate their competency level of skills.

Directions: Place students in groups of two. Using the “Self-Inventory Outline,” the students will help each other create a list of positive and negative traits that could be applied to the working world. The students can discuss, as a group or as a class, how to make the negative traits more positive.

Handout Website: http://fcs.tennessee.edu/familyecon/SP461a.pdf

4. Job Interview

Summary: This activity will help students better understand a real interview.

Directions: The interview activity will be conducted in the classroom. First, place students into groups of 2 or 3. One student will be the interviewer, one will be the interviewee, and a third person will give constructive criticism. Set a dress code for the interview, and require students to dress in appropriate attire. Interview areas should be set up around the room. A desk or table for the interviewer would be helpful. The responsibilities of the interviewer are to greet the interviewee with a handshake and to conduct the interview. The interviewee must answer the questions to the best of his/her ability. Depending on class size, a few groups could conduct their interview per day, and the rest of the class members should serve as evaluators.

Handouts: Sample Interview Questions (Word Document)
Website: http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/Mastering-the-Interview/Fifty-Standard-Interview-Questions/

5. Resume

Summary: The students will make a resume using template software.

Directions: This project can be done through the use of template software such as Microsoft Office or Works. (Kuder also has a resume builder, but automatically formats the final product.) To use a template, the student must delete the prompts such as “Name Goes Here” and simply insert their own name. Each section has prompts for what the writer should place in the section. The students can build a resume of their current abilities and education and save it for modification for upcoming years in the work force.

6. FCCLA Star Events (Career Investigations)

Summary: Upon completion of this long-term project, a student could easily complete and assemble this project for the Career Investigation competition.

Directions: To complete the Career Investigations Portfolio, a student would have to provide examples of such items as interviews and jobs shadows. The student would have to create goals and a plan to enact them using the research completed within the long-term project. A formatted Works Cited Page is also necessary. The easybib.com website creates MLA Works Cited Pages for free. The student must type in the information.
Document: FCCLA Star Events Manual Page 40-43
Website: FCCLA Manual Online Page 40-43 http://www.fcclainc.org/assets/files/STAR_PRINT.pdf