Questioning and Planning
Introducing the Question, Choice or Problem "Finding a job in a buoyant economy is easy; choosing a career that will hold up over time is not. To pinpoint jobs for the future, U.S. News interviewed dozens of experts in 20 fields across the country. Some of the careers they identified, like computer engineering, are as much in demand as ever. Others may surprise you: From cosmetic dentistry to environmental pollution prevention to tourism, the late '90s offer possibilities that are lucrative--and, in many cases, fun."("Find your career: 1998 Career Guide." U.S. News Online)
Through the magic of science and technology, we have put you in a time machine and you are now in the 12th grade. You must research these three careers:
1) Nurse Practitioner
2) Aerospace Engineer
3) Park Ranger
And one of the following:
* Vocational Education Teacher
* Computer Sales Representative
* Robotics Technician
* Actor or Actress
* Cabinet Maker
You are to make a career choice based on the following criteria, plus two other criteria:
*Education requirements (How much college do you need?)
*Working environment (indoors or outdoors?)
This is what is expected of you:
*You will have the opportunity to explore a variety of exciting resources.
*After looking at and fully researching all the criteria, you will make your career choice based on the information you have gathered in your data sheet.
*You will create a slide show, using one slide for each criteria, and present your findings to your classmates.
Grading
Your group presentation will be graded by the following rubric.
Master Craftsman (4) Grade 90% - 100%
Uses clear and complete information
Demonstrates understanding and goes beyond the requirements of the problem
Presentation has more information than required
The whole "work force" (team) must participate in the presentation
All components of the problem are completed: slide show, data sheet, disk with bibliographies
Qualified Worker (3) Grade 80% - 89%
Uses complete information
Presentation has as much information as required
The whole "work force" (team) must participate in the presentation
All components of the problem are completed: slide show, data sheet, disk with bibliographies
Apprentice (2) Grade 70% - 79%
Does not find all of the information
Gives an incomplete presentation
Only three-fourths of the work force participates in presentation
Most components of the problem are completed
Unemployed (1) Grade 69% and below
Turns in very little of the assignment
Shows little or no presentation
Half of the work force does not participate in presentation
Components of the problem are not completed: slide show, data sheet, disk with bibliographies
Time Line
- You will visit the lab for two weeks.
-Visit 1 - Questioning and Planning - Your group will fill in the questions on the data sheet. Time: One day.
-Visit 2- Gathering/Sorting/Sifting 1 - Finding information about careers in SIRS and Information Access, and placing in data sheet.
-Visit 3- Gathering/Sorting/Sifting 2 - Continue finding information about careers on the Internet and placing in data sheet.
-Visit 4- Synthesis - Time to stop and make your decision.
*Look at all your information
*Compare information on your data chart and agree on one career choice. Make a list of supporting reasons for that career choice. Make another list explaining why you did not choose one of the other careers.
-Visit 5 - Synthesis 1- Developing Slide Show.-Make a story board. This can be done by folding a big piece of paper into 8 rectangles. This will be your plan for your slide show.
-Visit 6 - Synthesis 2 - Developing Slide Show.-Now that your plan is complete, begin collecting pictures and graphics for your slide show presentation.
-Visit 7 - Synthesis 3 - Developing Slide Show.- Use ClarisWorks Slide Show to build a slide show of at least 8 frames.
-Visit 8 - Presentation of Slide Show.
This is your data sheet. When you are ready to start gathering information, you will copy this data sheet and fill the squares with your information.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
Career Data Sheet
Education
Requirements
Working
Environment
Your own Criteria - fill in
Your own Criteria - fill in
Environment
Nurse
Practitioner
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Aerospace
Engineer
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Park
Ranger
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Profession of your choice
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
Working
Environment
NEXT
Copyright Notice
Illustrations courtesy of Misael Benitez (4th grade student at Fannin Elementary). This Research Module may be used by teachers and school districts for students, but may not be whacked or republish on any website or in any other electronic format without express permission . All other uses, transmissions and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly.
