M2: Career Development & Workbased Learning by

GMUTTAC — 2023-10-27 15:43:41 UTC

Career awareness encompasses becoming more self-aware of their skills, abilities and interests and how those traits relate to future career goals. Career awareness involves career exploration, opportunities to explore interests, abilities, values, and goals and to develop a mindset that learning is lifelong for any career. Career awareness is critical to transition readiness as students explore the connection between education and the future career goals. This video aligns with career awareness because it gives students the opportunity to learn about a career as a cartoonist. Students can determine how their strengths, interests, preferences, and needs align with this career. Students decide if they want to explore this career more based on the information provided in the video.

GMUTTAC — 2023-10-27 15:53:03 UTC

In this video we hear from a veterinarian describing his typical day, learn the qualifications required for the job, the best and worst parts of the job, and advise for someone interested in becoming a veterinarian. This is an example of career exploration. Career exploration gives students a broader exposure to the world of work. It increases the likelihood of completing high school and pursuing post-secondary education. Students are motivated to pursue their dream careers and help students envision how they might fit into the world. It also allows student to set realistic goals to prepare for specific careers and helps them plan for high skills and gain the skills they need. This video targets the components of job exploration.

GMUTTAC — 2023-10-27 16:02:14 UTC

Career preparation encompasses self-exploration skills that enable youth to identify interests, skills, values and how various career match these. It involves making informed choices about long-term career interests and the required education and industry credentials needed. It includes career planning and management skills such as academic planning, decision making, career readiness skills, and job search skills. It targets career-specific skills and development of employability or “soft” skills such as communication, leadership, decision-making, and conflict management skills. This video series targets those soft skills students need to be aware of when they enter the workforce.

GMUTTAC — 2023-10-27 16:07:53 UTC

Career awareness is becoming more aware of potential careers. It is about investigating jobs, the skills associated with specific jobs, and required education. Career awareness is learning career paths and career clusters. This video depicts several young students describing what they want to be when they grow up and some explaining the reason behind their interest. It is a great introduction to a variety of careers, career paths, and career clusters.

GMUTTAC — 2023-10-27 16:48:25 UTC

Career exploration involves potentially narrowing down career options and exploring those in more detail. This video identifies seven steps to choosing the right career path. It touches on the importance of knowing oneself. This includes hobbies that may spark a career path, personality traits that align with a particular job, and examining what is important in a job such as salary, job title, or growth opportunities. The video suggests talking to experts in the field as well as researching the job market to determine future opportunities in the field. Finally, knowing ones core values can lead to a fulfilling career so it is essential to choose a career with qualities that align with personal values and beliefs.

Career Day Planning like a Boss/Laura Aney

2023-10-27 22:13:11 UTC

This video discusses 11 steps in planning a successful career day for students. It discusses time of day to hold the event, types of career day, guests to invite, log of when contacting guests, planning logistics, creating an event schedule, welcoming guests, and preparing students in advance are some of the topics the video discusses. Having a career day demonstrates career awareness because it will expose students to careers they may not have thought of and learn more specifics about careers they know about. According to the presentation Career Development Overview, students becoming aware and exposed to many different careers, as well as the qualifications for the different careers is critical for students to learn.

How to Job Shadow/Laura Aney

2023-10-27 22:15:30 UTC

This video discusses job shadowing, and the steps for a student to set up a job shadowing opportunity. This demonstrates career exploration because job shadowing gives the student an opportunity to see firsthand about the job/career they are interested in and to help them determine if they are really interested in the job/career. Job shadowing can also help the student see what type of training and/or education the job requires. According to Luecking (2020, p. 8), job shadowing introduces youth to "jobs, job requirements, and potential career options."

Farm Manager/Laura Aney

2023-10-27 22:18:16 UTC

This video discusses the career of a Farm Manager and what the career entails. The narrator and Mark what a Farm Manager is, and discusses how Mark became interested in farming, his college education, and what he does in his career. Mark discusses how technology helps him in farming, and how knowing technology and a degree in an area of agriculture will be helpful. This is an example of Career Preparation because it gives students interested in the field of agriculture information about being a Farm Manager as well as other areas of agriculture, as well as the abilities, skills, lifestyle, and requirements for those in agriculture. It also discusses education and training that is needed in the career, and worker characteristics in the field of agriculture. Students narrowing their career field to one area is critical for students according to the presentation Career Development Overview.

Career Exploration Tips for High Schoolers/Laura Aney

2023-10-27 22:45:44 UTC

This video discusses aspects of careers high school students need to keep in mind when thinking about possible careers. One area is to know themselves (i.e., their skills, interests, and values). Another area the video discusses is to have students research careers, job shadow, and explore different career areas that match their interests. It also discusses looking into training and education needed for interested careers, as well as attending career fairs. This is part of Career Exploration because it explains to students ways to explore careers that align with their strengths and interests. According to the Career Development Overview presentation, job shadowing, learning career requirements, and students knowing their abilities, skills, and preferences, are all areas students need to have knowledge of to help them determine their future career.

Career Awareness

2023-10-28 03:12:29 UTC

Michelle Hardman Cabelus

Career Awareness as defined by Morningstar & Clavenna-Deane (2018) “begins in preschool, continuing through middle school, and focuses on discovering the existence of work, jobs, and careers.” (p 150)

This video sets the foundation regarding student-centered in regards to post-secondary goals as they are related to individual student interests, preferences, strengths, and needs. The question of “what makes you happy?” is assessing the student’s personal perspectives- thinking through and taking the time to recognize for themselves what are those places, people, hobbies, interests, connections, likes and dislikes that make them happy, be engaged and motivated, interested, and be active participants. When discussing career awareness, learning about what defines work, a job, and career fields provides insight towards the pathway in asking ourselves the question- “what do we want to be when we grow up.” However, the first step should always be towards the discussion of what makes me tick, what makes me genuinely happy, motivated, interested, having the desire to want to learn specific skills, tasks, will help me have the initiative, drive, focus, and passion to continue to refer to and seek out any needed training or further educational coursework?

Morningstar, M. & Clavenna-Deane, B. (2018). Your Complete Guide To Transition Planning and Services. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Company.

YouTube. (2022e). What makes you happy? YouTube. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxXwO9oDDPQ.

Career Awareness

2023-10-28 03:14:55 UTC

Michelle Hardman Cabelus

This video builds off the student-centered question of “what makes you happy?” and furthers the discussion of defining a job and how that job choice will match personal interests, preferences, strengths, and needs, while also addressing how each job reflects your honest reflection.

What is a job? What does a job provide, how does it relate to you personally? A job can and should be reflective of you as a person and your individual interests, preferences, and strengths. Additionally, it is important again to seek out and secure a job that makes you happy. A job benefits include providing money to support ourselves independently in maintaining daily needs. Further, jobs that are based on individual personal interests, preferences, and strengths can allow opportunities to further what you already know in job training and skills, while extending possibilities to grow personally in abilities and opportunities within that role or career field. In review of a “job” it is important to sets the foundation regarding student-centered in regards to post-secondary goals as they are related to individual student interests, preferences, strengths, and needs. Another aspect to review in the definition of the job role is seeking out and determining how our interests, preferences, strengths, and needs will ultimately determine where, what, and how we will fit within the job role/career field model. Do we have the individual strengths and abilities to effectively perform the required job duties or do students consider other opportunities that address their needs and strengths while still discovering a role in a job that fits their interests and preferences? Revisiting the video “what makes you happy?” is assessing the student’s personal perspectives- thinking through and taking the time to recognize for themselves what are those places, people, hobbies, interests, connections, likes and dislikes that make them happy, be engaged and motivated, interested, and be active participants. How is this now connected in the next steps of career awareness and discovery of jobs?

YouTube. (2023). All About Working-Vocational Lesson One . YouTube. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DB1KnmBGbo.

Career Awareness

2023-10-28 03:17:09 UTC

Michelle Hardman Cabelus

This video builds off the student-centered question of “what makes you happy?” and furthers the discussion of career as it relates to your individual preference for work as a direct reflection of you as a person: individual interests, preferences, and strengths. The process of choosing a job and career pathway is continuous as is finding and appreciating over time who you are as an individual. Situational occurrences over time during the process such as personal experiences and environments that you encounter, learned skills gained, and personal exchanges between those you meet can influence and steer future goals, opportunities, and outcomes related to the selection as it relates to individual job, education, training, community, and career choices.

Again, the process of job and career decision is grounded in asking ourselves “what makes you happy” and application of “self-assessments” to ultimately find “career satisfaction”. This means the constant reflection of your personal interests, strengths, preferences, and individual needs. The video uses the term “career focused flexibility” as the process of making a career decision is not “absolute”. Meaning that as individuals we are taking the needed time for individual reflection, active engagement, appreciating the diverse options available to us through career awareness at the same time keeping in mind what is important to us our preferences, interests, strengths, and needs. Being too “focused” on one specific job or career could derail an individual from finding out about other opportunities that are out there, but yet to be discovered if we take the time to look for them. Another reminder not to be “too flexible” meaning swaying in any and all directions, and open to anything that comes along could also derail us from being clear and focused on making the proper choice that fits us as individuals. Taking the time in the process to evaluate who we are is important, especially when considering the proper steps to take if a job or career presented to us at that point in time is truly reflective of what our interests, preferences, strengths, and needs are. This step allows us to again take that perspective of carefully considering available job, career, education, vocational, community opportunities that are presented to ensure the position meets criteria of what makes us happy, and fits the career pathway we are looking to embark upon.

YouTube. (2020b). The Career Decision Making Process. YouTube. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CuMioMQcxk&t=34s.

Career Exploration

2023-10-28 03:19:54 UTC

Michelle Hardman Cabelus

Career Exploration as defined by Morningstar & Clavenna-Deane (2018) “usually begins in elementary school and continues throughout high school, where students learn about various aspects of work-related skills and the range of career pathways and postsecondary requirements” (p 150)

This video furthers the discussion which stemmed from the introduction of career awareness and the concept of “work” as it relates to a job and a career field that will benefit us in providing for our basic living needs, sense of accomplishment in what we have chosen to do which answers “what makes us happy?”. The discussion now extends the conversation of the individual student in regards to preparation of career exploration. Taking the question of “what will we be when we grow up?” students must be provided opportunities through the process of discovering career pathways to learn about individual careers, what that may be defined as in the job role, and how they can engage and participate in experiences in a variety of different areas. Through career exploration, individual students can uncover various careers while taking into consideration their personal interests, preferences, strengths, and needs. Additionally, applying career interest assessments allows for the student to learn more about themselves throughout the career exploration process; remembering that the more interactions and engagement opportunities students will have to explore various career elements, the better they may begin to focus on what may be needed to work towards those career fields they are most interested in. Career exploration encourages self-determination, self-advocacy, active participation and selection of meaningful experiences that will help them with their goals- selecting specific courses (career related, vocational, college prep), seeking out job shadowing, tours, or volunteer opportunities at areas related to their career field interests.

Morningstar, M. & Clavenna-Deane, B. (2018). Your Complete Guide To Transition Planning and Services. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Company.

YouTube. (2019a). “Academic Minute” Middle School Career Exploration. YouTube. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KgMRbTqdKo.

Career Exploration

2023-10-28 03:21:42 UTC

Michelle Hardman Cabelus

In continuation of career exploration comes the introduction of career clusters, with a total of 16. The exploration of career clusters allows the individual student to once again reflect on their personal interests, preferences, likes and dislikes, strengths, and individual needs. Additionally, through the implementation of career interest assessments, the student has the ability to demonstrate self-reflection and initiate the practice of self-determination and self-advocacy in reviewing their personal choices of specific career clusters that are of interest to them. Having career clusters identified, this will open the door for the student to review career pathways of deeper discovery into all of their selected career clusters. Again, selecting a few different career pathways provides additional reflection into what is needed to work in this specific career field- what may be involved regarding post-secondary education, vocational training, specific environments, job roles/tasks/skills needed to work in these career areas? The student through opportunities of job shadowing, volunteering, paid work experiences, work based learning may be able to quickly separate what could be a good fit vs what may not be. Again, this allows the student to be realistic and use their voice while testing a pathway, considering how their personal interests, preferences, strengths, and individual needs are being met or how that job role is not what they expected or may not feel comfortable in. The process of career exploration through career clusters and selection of career pathways allows the narrowing down of a career vision and begins to provide a real perspective in what the career expectations and job roles will be.

YouTube. (2017). Career Cluster and Pathway Activity. YouTube. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2VGOxs7Vuk.

Career Preparation

2023-10-28 03:28:52 UTC

Michelle Hardman Cabelus

Career Preparation as defined by Morningstar & Clavenna-Deane (2018) “becomes the focus during high school, when students begin to learn career-specific and work-related skills through on-the-job experiences and through planning for postsecondary education and training.” (p 150)

In career preparation, the programs we see are diverse, where curriculum elements are intricately woven to further promote and encourage movement of the student towards their post-secondary goals of job, career, vocational, educational, community, and independent living. In this video, we are introduced to ECLC Of New Jersey. This organization supports students on their transitional journey through preparation available in programs such as: vocational training and job sampling, supported employment, day programs, and PRIDE. Students actively participate and engage with their peers in coursework that allows for hands-on job training, employment skills, and interpersonal skills. Throughout the video there are moments of reflection where the employer of the ECLC students will share the difference that these students are making within their communities; specifically, what they are giving back to those who they come in contact with each day during interactions, and the demonstrated willingness to be a part of that environment and that job role they are given. The various programs allow students the continued opportunities to demonstrate self-determination and self-advocacy which promote personal independence, confidence, and finding purpose along their personal transition pathway of career preparation.

Morningstar, M. & Clavenna-Deane, B. (2018). Your Complete Guide To Transition Planning and Services. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Company.

YouTube. (2013). Helping Young People with Special Needs Transition Into Adulthood. YouTube. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEPuD3oSULQ.

Job Interviews 101/Laura Aney

2023-10-28 15:53:37 UTC

This video shows two role plays of two different job interviews. The first role play shows the correct skills to have for a job interview (I.e., dress professionally, be prepared, eye contact, etc.). The second role play shows incorrect behaviors to have during a job interview (I.e., inappropriate dress, poor posture, answering cell phone, etc.). Both role plays are performed by teens and then discussed afterwards. This video demonstrates Career Preparation because it helps students learn the correct ways to conduct themselves during a job interview and tips on answering questions during the interview, as well as what not to do during an interview, to prepare them in obtaining a job in their chosen career. According to the presentation Career Development Overview, refining interviewing skills is a critical skill for students to learn.

c676h613_ — 2023-10-29 21:53:28 UTC

Career awareness is learning why it is important to work and how it can contribute to one's lifestyle and life choices. It also exposes students to various types of career choices. In this video, it shows many adults with developmental disabilities in their work environment. While it does not show all the career components, it does highlight why working is important and why the workers love their job. The jobs the adults work include dishwasher, cart pusher, spa cleaner, restaurant worker, grocery shelf stocker, and department store worker. They all explain their role in their jobs, the best thing about their job, what they spend their money on, and why it is important to have a job. Most said their favorite part was the people they work with and the new people they meet. The managers/supervisors also commented how reliable and hardworking the workers were. This video can be shown to students with developmental or intellectual disabilities to expose them to a few career ideas and for them to learn why it is important to find a job they would enjoy. This could motivate them to complete a career interest inventory to find the right job and environment for them. It also could give family members confidence that their child with developmental disabilities could work as an adult and gain some independence.

YouTube. (2023). People with Developmental Disabilities Work. YouTube. Retrieved October 29, 2023 from https://youtu.be/LCa02lgV0I0?si=kFWcRtfKZZwqlHp7

c676h613_ — 2023-10-29 22:58:30 UTC

Career exploration is applying their work related skills learned in the classroom and applying it into the community by job shadowing a career of interest. Students can be given tasks to do on the job site, with assistance of a job coach or special education teacher to trial the work experience to see if it is a right fit or if the student still has interest in that career. In this video, Project Search provides students with developmental or intellectual disabilities who are interested in working in a hospital an opportunity to intern at a local hospital. Students sanitize equipment, preparing a maternity room (bed sheets, restocking supplies), restocking shelves, organizing the pharmacy, folding sheets, and dishwashing in the cafeteria. Some of the students have a checklist to follow so they complete all their tasks. One student was described as being mathematical, so keeping hospital supplies stocked at all times has been a perfect job for him because he loves to count and takes his job seriously of having enough supplies for the staff. This opportunity provides students with work and social skills needed to maintain a job. Project Search's mission is to increase the employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

YouTube. (2013). Project Search: New Pathways for Young Adults with Disabilities. YouTube. Retrieved October 29, 2023, from https://youtu.be/UQ-8p5DN26c?si=pWHBojAQKfukqZOu.

c676h613_ — 2023-10-29 23:39:36 UTC

In order to prepare students for their career, they must gain work experience which may include vocational rehabilitation services. Students are provided with multiple pre-employment transition activities. After the pre-employment services, they are given a paid employment opportunity. In this video, Bennett, a student with autism, gets a job at CVS through the Texas Workforce Commission. He started with a job coach and worked alongside other students. He progressed within his 12 weeks and was able to work independently. There is also a Summer Earn and Learn program (SEAL) where students work paid summer jobs for 5 weeks with employer partners, like CVS. It gives the students an opportunity to showcase their abilities rather than their disabilities. The vocational program also offers accommodations to help the students succeed. Bennett was offered a position at CVS after his training. He credits the experience as being very valuable and something that will help him later in life. He felt that without the experience, he would be lost because there is only so much you can learn in the classroom as it doesn't cover everything. The Texas Workforce Commission aims to help individuals achieve competitive, integrated employment outcomes. Family members have comfort in knowing that their child can be independent and have a career.

YouTube. (2022). Vocational Rehabilitation Pre-employment Transition Services. YouTube. Retrieved October 29, 2023, from https://youtu.be/5dEDkZU5eYk?si=K4OsjFjEverIrCTY.