Introduction
The number one question students in middle & high school are asked by adults: What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to be when you grow up? As you approach adulthood, this question will be asked of you more and more.
In this webquest, you will conduct research to try to help answer these questions:
- What skills do you have that make you marketable?
- What is your dream job?
- How do your skills tie in with your desired job?
- In the future, what other types of careers might you possibly working in?
- How much money do you picture yourself earning per year when you are settled into a job in the future?
- What kind of education and/or special training do you need to complete to get into the field of work you are interested in?
- What classes should you be taking now to obtain your dream job?
- What are the next steps you will take to help you achieve these goals?
These are the topics you will explore as you complete this WebQuest.
The number one question students in middle and high school are asked by adults: What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to be when you grow up? As you approach adulthood, this question will be asked of you more and more.
Now click on Task
Task
The Task
You are about to arrive at a big crossroads in your young life. For many, this may be the first big set of decisions you have had to face yet. You are about to make choices about what career path you are going to take. Some students may decide to go on to a 2 or 4 year college or trade school; some students may join the military; and others may go right into the workforce. Regardless of which path you choose, there are ways to prepare yourself and things you can do now to help get you down the road you want.
5 Steps to the WebQuest
- Uncovering Resources
- Self-Discovery
- Research Careers and Options
- Evaluating Options
- Setting Goals and Making Plans
NOW CLICK ON Process.
Process
The Process
Why is it important to do so much planning before starting a job?
Read these articles before beginning your search.
https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/12/11/6-considerations-for-choosing-a-career-path
https://www.moneycrashers.com/confused-find-right-career-path/
https://lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-to-find-your-career-path-1628537579
Step One: Self-Discovery
Complete the Employability Skills Survey. In this survey, you will examine your:
- Basic Skills
- Thinking Skills
- Foundation Skills
- Competency
To get to the Employment Skills Survey, look in the WebQuest "Step Two" assignment in google classroom. Turn this in once completed.
Step Two: Research Careers and Options
It is time to do some research into career fields you may be interested in. Take the Career Interest survey I have attached to the google classroom assignment.
Go to the following website and look at potential careers. The site has a large list of careers, job descriptions, education, certification, and income.
https://collegegrad.com/careers/all
Once you have finished this step, complete the Google Doc that has been shared with you on Google Classroom. This document will help you to keep these scores for later reference. *NOTE that military has been added, as it is not included in the interest survey.
Step Three: Evaluate Your Options
Now that you have a general idea of the career categories you are best suited for at this time, you will need to explore what job opportunities are available. What specific jobs fall into this category? What are your career opportunities, and how do jobs in this field differ? What education is needed? What is the average income?
Go back to this website and evaluate your options.
https://collegegrad.com/careers/all
Step Four: Setting Goals and Making Plans
The final step to the WebQuest is goal setting and making plans. Using the information you have gathered, write a 350-word response using Google Docs, and then turn in your three documents on Google Classroom (attaching all three to the assignment). Answer the following questions in your writing. First person is expected. As always, writing must be typed, double spaced, Times New Roman, size 12, and formal writing format (no texting lingo).
- What did you learn about your career interests? What categories did you score highest in, and do you agree with this or is it shocking to you?
- Highlight the important information you learned from researching the career field you did (education needed, salary, skills, experience, etc.).
- Address two short-term and two long-term goals you have regarding planning for your future and this career.
- What things do you need to get done now and what will you need to plan for within this year until graduation?
- Anything else?
Evaluation
Evaluation
The attached rubric will be used to score your work. Once you have finished, be sure to go back to check the rubric to ensure you have completed the requirements. All assignments will be scored together, for a total of 100 points (25pts for Career Cluster Interest survey, 25pts for Job Research, and 50pts for the written summary of career exploration).
Conclusion
Conclusion- Approaching Adulthood
In this WebQuest, you began your search into your future. While you have maybe thought about what you want to be when you grow up, the time is now closer than ever. In 6 or fewer years, you will be an adult, out in the world and standing on your own. Understanding where to go to find information, how to explore options, and how to apply yourself and this knowledge will be key to your success.
As you continue on your path, know that more crossroads will present themselves and that learning which path to take means understanding where the road goes. While you won't know all the details, research and planning can help. Good luck along the way!
End of WebQuest
Credits
Teacher Page
Teacher Page
Here is the lesson plan for the Career Exploration WebQuest. This page is designed to give teachers an overview of the purpose, objectives, and learner characteristics associated with this webquest.
Purpose
The Career Exploration WebQuest is designed to provide students with:
- Uncovering Resources: finding tools available to help research careers.
- Self-Discovery: learning to utilize tools which can help individuals to learn about their skills and interests.
- Research Careers and Options: providing opportunity for career exploration.
- Evaluating Options: performing an indepth look at what a desired career will take.
- Setting Goals and Making Plans: a way for students to organize and plan out how they will accomplish these tasks.
Rationale
It is important for students to begin planning for their future, whether it is a focus on education or starting theri career. By providing students with the opportunity to begin researching options available post-high school, students can begin planning and setting goals for their future.
Learner Description
This webquest is designed for middle school students (grades 7-8) who are completing a unit on approaching adulthood. This webquest will be part of a unit on career research, adulthood, and resposibilty.
Prerequisites
Students completing this webquest will need to be familiar with internet searches, Google Docs and Google Classroom.
Instructional Objectives
At the conclusion of this webquest, students will be able to:
- Identify their strengths and skills, both professionally and personally
- Compare career fields as they relate to student interests
- Analyze how the career they are interested in matches up with their own skills and interests
- Compose a summary evaluating a desired job
- Determine a schedule for short-term and long-term professional and personal goals as they relate to career exploration
Standards
Common Core State Standards
- RI.11-12.1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
- RI.11-12.7: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.
- W.11-12.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey comple ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organinzation, and analysis of content.
- W.11-12.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
- W.11-12.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.