Connecting Careers to the Classroom Career Solutions Training Group

Reasons for the connection 41% of High School Students ages say they’re currently employed. Number of Hours Worked Source: Michel Opinion Research for Mass Mutual, Adapted from USA TODAY

Teens Worry About Jobs Source: Survey completed by the Brainwaves Group, published in Keeping Up, January * *

Why should we connect?  Bring relevance to instruction  Motivate students  Develop knowledge and skills

How do we connect careers to academics? C D A Connect - Create - Discover - Apply

 CONNECT your subject area to something students care about.  CREATE an activity that is meaningful and interesting to the age group (big idea).  Identify what students will DISCOVER as they apply their knowledge in an activity.  Ask students to APPLY their knowledge.

Connect Combine concepts from your subject area to something students care about.

Math & Landscape Design Measure the school’s courtyard, convert to percentages, decimals, basic functions, algebra, and geometry. Science & Medical Research Visit a landfill and take samples. Evaluate germs throughout the school premises. Examine items under the microscope.

English & Chef Write a menu description of the daily lunch specials. Social Studies & EMS Connect a poor economy with public services. Which services should never be eliminated? Which services are optional?

Create Appealing activities that are meaningful and interesting to the age group (big idea).  A current event  An occurrence in your town  An athletic event (Olympics)  A music-related activity  Holiday-related Activities

Discover Provide interesting discovery methods for learning. BrainstormingGroups and Pairs Role PlayingProject Activities Community ServicePanel Discussions DebatesSurveys Mock TV ShowsShadowing Internet ResearchInternships Student Desktop Published Reports Conversations with Mentors and Parents Student Videotaped Discussions

Apply Allow students to apply the new knowledge to real life. Provide practice situations in the career field. Create new activities based on students’ personal experiences. Require feedback and presentation.

Using CCDA CONNECT careers to something that students care about (clothes, music, cars). CREATE an activity that integrates the student’s preferred career with math, English, social studies, and science. Identify what students will DISCOVER as they apply their knowledge in an activity. Ask students to APPLY their knowledge.

Employability Skills that Can Be Taught Communication: Read and understand written materials Write and speak clearly in the language of business Mathematics: Understand charts and graphs Understand basic computation Use mathematics to solve problems Science and Technology: Use the scientific method to solve problems Understand the basic scientific facts Keep current with new technology

Other Teachable Skills Problem Solving: Access information Apply problem solving skills and knowledge to complex relationships Responsibility: Attend school/work daily Arrive on time each day Meet deadlines Work without supervision Organization: Pay attention to details Follow written and oral directions and instructions

For more information contact Career Solutions Training Group (610) Toll free (888) Copyright © 2003 by Career Solutions Training Group. Hands-On-Academics TM is a trademark used herein under license.