ENGAGE
Overview
This is a project based course designed to help middle school students explore career options using the Nebraska Career Education Model and understand the Nebraska Career Readiness Standards. The course is organized by three themes – Making it My Choice, A World of Options and Charting a Direction – with culminating individual and group projects. Students will define career clusters and pathways, describe examples of career readiness, utilize self-assessments to better understand interests, establish a career portfolio and create a personal learning plan to provide direction to high school and post-high school activities. This course is aligned to American School Counselor Association Standards for Students, uses Nebraska Career Connections an online career information system and integrates EducationQuest tools and resources for middle school students.
Recommended Level: Grades 7-8
Course Code: 320300
Engage Career Exploration & Readiness Curriculum: A Teacher Guide and Materials for the Course
Engage! Middle School Career Exploration and Readiness
This is a project based course designed to help middle school students explore career options using the Nebraska Career Education Model and understand the Nebraska Career Readiness Standards. The course is organized by three themes - Making it My Choice, A World of Options and Charting a Direction - with culminating individual and group projects. Students will define career clusters and pathways, describe examples of career readiness, utilize self-assessments to better understand interests, establish a career portfolio and create a personal learning plan to provide direction to high school and post-high school activities. This course is aligned to American School Counselor Association Standards for Students, integrates Nebraska Career Connections an online career information system for Nebraska and Education Quest tools and resources for middle school students.
User Guide to Engage
This user guide describes the curriculum design model of project based learning, theory of career development for middle school and includes scope and sequence options for the course.
Recommended Level: Grades 7-8
Course Code for Nebraska Department of Education: 320300
Engage Unit 1
Unit 1 - Making it My Choice!
Unit 1 | OVERVIEW Unit 1
Navigating the Course - Where are we in the course?
Summary of OVERVIEW: Making it My Choice! is designed to assist middle school students in taking ownership of their future choices, especially those related to career exploration. In this unit, students will learn more about themselves and how their decisions and career-planning efforts will impact their futures. Through the exploration of college and career readiness skills, students will begin the process of growing into a career-ready student.
Outcomes: The student synthesizes a mission statement and orally responds to questions regarding ownership of his or her future plans. Mission statements and oral responses should demonstrate active reflection, synthesis, and application of Key Concepts related to the following Essential Questions:
Essential Question 1: How do I take ownership of my future?
Essential Question 2: How do decisions I make today directly influence my future?
Essential Question 3: How do I start career planning now?
Essential Question 4: Why must I grow and develop college and career readiness skills?
Project Based Learning Type of Session & Name | Key Events Unit 1 |
SESSION 1 |
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SESSION 2 |
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SESSION 3 |
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SESSION 4 |
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SESSION 5 |
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SESSION 6 |
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SESSION 7 |
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SESSION 8 & 9 |
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SESSION 10 & 11 |
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SESSION 12 |
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SESSION 13 Optional: End-of-Unit Exam |
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Unit 1 Teacher Resources
Lesson Plans
Unit 1 - Session 1 | Introduction - Making It My Choice
Unit 1 - Session 2 | Guided Instruction -My Own Future
Unit 1 - Session 3 | Self-Directed - Own My Future
Unit 1 - Session 4 | Guided Instruction -Make It Count
Unit 1 - Session 5 | Self-Directed - Make It Count
Unit 1 - Session 6 | Guided Instruction - Where Do I Start Career Readiness
Unit 1 - Session 7 | Guided Instruction - Where Do I Start Career Readiness
Unit 1 - Sessions 8 & 9 | Self-Directed - How Do I Start
Unit 1 - Sessions 10 & 11 | Milestone Project - Construction and Feedback
Unit 1 - Session 12 | Milestone Project -Showcase
Unit 1 - Session 13 | Optional Exam
Unit 1 - Session 13 | Optional Exam Answer Key
Student Activity Sheets
Unit 1 - All Sessions 1-12 | Student Activity Sheets
Power Points
Unit 1 - Session 1 | 1.1 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 2 | 1.2 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 3 | 1.3 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 4 | 1.4 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 5 | 1.5 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 6 | 1.6 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 7 | 1.7 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 8 & 9 | 1.8&9 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 10 &11 | 1.10&11 ppt
Unit 1 - Session 12 | 1.12 ppt
Engage Unit 2
Unit 2 - Overview: A World of Options!
Unit 2 | OVERVIEW Unit 2
Navigating the Course - Where are we in the course?
Summary of OVERVIEW: A World of Options! engages students in exploring a world of career options. In this unit, students build a schema for understanding and classifying career options using the Nebraska Career Education Model. Within this model, students explore how education, interests, and experience relate to career options. Students also explore key issues, trends, and innovations that influence or change the career landscape as a whole. By the end of this unit, students will use Career Clusters to explore one or two broad sectors of career interest.
Outcomes: The students synthesize a multi-media report outlining information about the nature of careers within one broad Career Cluster. Reports created should demonstrate active synthesis, application, and use of the Key Concepts related to the following Essential Questions.
Essential Question 1: What are my options in the world of careers?
Essential Question 2: How are trends, issues, and innovations changing the world of careers?
Project Based Learning Type of Session & Name | Key Events Unit 2 |
SESSION 1 Unit 2 Introduction: A World of Options! |
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SESSION 2 Guided Instruction: Topic 2-1: My Career Options: Six Career Fields |
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SESSION 3 Self-Directed Learning: Topic 2-1: My Career Options: 16 Career Clusters |
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SESSION 4 Guided Instruction: Topic 2-2: Career Path Development |
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SESSION 5 Guided Instruction: Topic 2-2: Career Path Development |
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SESSION 6 & 7 Self-Directed Learning: Topic 2-2: Career Path Development |
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SESSION 8 Guided Instruction: Topic 2-3: Sorting Out My Career Options |
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SESSION 9 Self-Directed Learning: Topic 2-3: Sorting Out My Career Options |
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SESSION 10 Guided Instruction: Topic 2-4: Trends, Issues, and Innovations |
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SESSION 11 Self-Directed Learning: Topic 2-4: Trends, Issues, and Innovations |
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SESSION 11 Guided Instruction: Topic 2-5: The Workplace Now and in the Future |
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SESSION 12 Self-Directed Learning: Topic 2-5: The Workplace now and in the Future |
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SESSION 13 & 14 |
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SESSION 15 & 16 Milestone Project: Construction & Feedback |
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SESSION 17 & 18 Milestone Project: Showcase & Final Assessment |
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SESSION 19 Optional: End-of-Unit 2 Exam |
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Unit 2 Teacher Resources
Lesson Plans
Unit 2 - Session 1 | Introduction -A World of Options
Unit 2 - Session 2 | Guided Instruction - My Career Options
Unit 2 - Session 3 | Self-Directed Learning - My Career Options
Unit 2 - Session 4 | Guided Instruction - Career Path Development
Unit 2 - Session 5 | Guided Instruction - Career Path Development
Unit 2 - Sessions 6 & 7 | Self-Directed Learning - Career Path Development
Unit 2 - Session 8 | Guided Instruction - Sorting Out My Career Options
Unit 2 - Session 9 | Self-Directed Learning -Sorting Out My Career Options
Unit 2 - Session 10 | Guided Instruction - Trends Issues and Innovation
Unit 2 - Session 11 | Self-Directed Learning - Trends Issues and Innovation
Unit 2 - Session 12 | Introduction - Making It My Choice
Unit 2 - Sessions 13 & 14 | Self-Directed Learning - Workplace Now and In the Future
Unit 2 - Sessions 15 & 16 | Introduction - Milestone Project
Unit 2 - Sessions 17 & 18 | Milestone Project - Showcase
Unit 2 - Session 19 | Optional Unit Exam
Unit 2 - Session 19 | Optional Exam Answer Key
Student Activity Sheets
Unit 2 - All Sessions 1-18 | Student Activity Sheets
Power Points
Unit 2 - Session 1 | 2.1 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 2 | 2.2 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 3 | 2.3 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 4 | 2.4 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 5 | 2.5 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 6 & 7 | 2.6&7 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 8 | 2.8 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 9 | 2.9 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 10 | 2.10 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 11 | 2.11 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 12 | 2.12 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 13 & 14 | 2.13&14 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 15 & 16 | 2.15&16 ppt
Unit 2 - Session 17 & 18 | 2.17&18 ppt
Engage Unit 3
Unit 3 — Overview: The Journey To Being Career-Ready!
Unit 3 | OVERVIEW Unit 3
Navigating the Course - Where are we in the course?
Summary of OVERVIEW: In this unit, students will explore what it really means to be career ready. They will consider the role their individual strengths, talents, education, experiences, and interests play in planning for the future and making purposeful choices. Students will complete a Career-Readiness Plan, including the selection of specific courses to help them become career-ready.
OUTCOMES: Students will create a career readiness-plan that will guide them to becoming career-ready. Students may create a PowerPoint presentation, Prezi presentation, iMovie, or written report. After taking both skills and interest assessments on Nebraska Career Connections, students will select a specific career. Students will explain how their skills and talents are used in the career, education and training requirements and identify activities and work experiences, which will help them become career-ready. Students will also complete a Personal Learning Plan, listing specific courses and extended learning opportunities the student should complete before graduation.
Essential Question 1: What does it mean to be career-ready?
Essential Question 2: What is the right career path for me?
Essential Question 3: How will my choices today affect my future?
Project Based Learning Type of Session & Name | Key Events Unit 3 |
SESSION 1 |
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SESSION 2 |
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SESSION 3 |
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SESSION 4 |
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SESSION 5 |
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SESSION 6 |
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SESSION 7 Guided Instruction: Topic 3-2: Choosing the Right Career |
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SESSION 8 |
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SESSION 9 Self-Directed Learning: Topic 3-2: It is Okay to Change My Mind |
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SESSION 10 |
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SESSION 11 Self-Directed Learning: Topic 3-3: Today's Choices Matter |
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SESSION 12 Guided Instruction: Topic 3-3: Personal Learning Plan |
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SESSION 13 Self-Directed Learning: Topic 3-3: Personal Learning Plan |
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SESSION 14 & 15 Milestone Project: Construction & Feedback |
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SESSION 16 & 17 Milestone Project: Showcase |
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SESSION 18 |
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Unit 3 Teacher Resources
Lesson Plans
Unit 3 - Session 1 | Introduction - The Journey to Career Readiness
Unit 3 - Session 2 | Guided Instruction - Importance of Being Career Ready
Unit 3 - Session 3 | Self-Directed Learning - Importance of Being Career Ready
Unit 3 - Session 4 | Guided Instruction - Importance of Being Career Ready
Unit 3 - Session 5 | Guided Instruction - Living a Fulfilling Life
Unit 3 - Session 6 | Self-Directed Learning - Living a Fulfilling Life
Unit 3 - Session 7 | Guided Instruction - Choosing the Right Career
Unit 3 - Session 8 | Guided Instruction - Choosing the Right Career
Unit 3 - Session 9 | Self-Directed Learning - It's OK to Change My Mind
Unit 3 - Session 10 | Guided Instruction - Today's Choices Matter
Unit 3 - Session 11 | Self-Directed Learning -Today's Choices Matter
Unit 3 - Session 12 | Guided Instruction - Personal Learning Plan
Unit 3 - Sessions 13 | Self-Directed Learning - Personal Learning Plan
Unit 3 - Session 14 & 15 | Milestone Project - Construction and Feedback
Unit 3 - Sessions 16 & 17 | Milestone Project - Showcase
Unit 3 - Session 18 | Optional Unit Exam
Unit 3 - Session 18 | Optional Exam Answer Key
Student Activity Sheets
Unit 3 - All Sessions 1-17 | Student Activity Sheets
Power Points
Unit 3- Session 1 | 3.1 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 2 | 3.2 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 3 | 3.3 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 4 | 3.4 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 5 | 3.5 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 6 | 3.6 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 7 | 3.7 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 8 | 3.8 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 9 | 3.9 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 10 | 3.10 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 11 | 3.11 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 12 | 3.12 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 13 | 3.13 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 14 & 15 | 3.14&15 ppt
Unit 3 - Session 16 & 17 | 3.16&17 ppt
Engage Unit 4
Unit 4 — Overview: Putting Together the Pieces!
Unit 4 | OVERVIEW Unit 4
Navigating the Course - Where are we in the course?
Summary of OVERVIEW: The purpose of this unit is to connect students with opportunities to continue exploring careers. There are four experiences planned for the students in this unit:
1) Introduction to other career exploration opportunities in the school and community
2) Completion of a career-exploration-oriented team project
3) Construction of an individual career exploration portfolio
4) Completion of an End-of-Course Exam
The materials provided for this unit are different from the other three. Our experience tells us that career portfolios and additional opportunities to explore careers vary greatly from district to district. All Nebraska schools have access to Nebraska Career Connections, an online career exploration and portfolio system. Some districts have subscriptions to other, similar programs. Plan to use either Nebraska Career Connections’ resources or one of the others and enhance them with the material provided. Finally, the resources and opportunities you offer students to continue exploring and planning for careers are unique to your local setting. For these reasons, we chose to provide session guides rather than detailed session plans for this particular unit. Like the other units, we still provide all the materials you will need to be successful!
OUTCOMES: At the end of the unit, students will have: an awareness of other elements of the career exploration system within the local school and community; experience of completing a tema project that emphasizes career exploration and Nebraska Career Readiness Standards and skill development; and have a completed career exploration protfolio.
Essential Question 1: What resources do I have to support my career development?
Essential Question 2: How do I demonstrate career readiness skills?
Project Based Learning Type of Session & Name | Key Events Unit 4 |
SESSIONS 1 - 5 |
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SESSIONS 6 - 15 |
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SESSIONS 16 - 22 |
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SESSION 23 Optional: End-of-Course Exam |
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Unit 4 Teacher Resources
Lesson Plans
Unit 4- Sessions 1 - 5 | Career Opportunities Guide
Unit 4 - Sessions 6 - 15 | Team Project Guide
Unit 4 - Sessions 16 - 22 | Individual Project Guide
Unit 4 - Session 23 | Optional End of Course Exam
Unit 4 - Session 23 | Optional End of Course Exam Answer Key
Unit 4 - Extended Learning Ideas
Student Activity Sheets
Unit 4 - All Sessions 1-22 | Student Activity Sheets
Power Points
Unit 4- Sessions 1 - 5 | 4.1-5 ppt
Unit 4 - Sessions 6 - 15 | 4.6-5 ppt
Unit 4- Sessions 16 - 22 | 4.16-22 ppt