Erik Amerikaner, editor, editor@glencoe-TechZine.com
You already know that computer education will be crucial for your students' success after high school. With a little effort, you can take the next step and transform your computer lab into a launch pad for their future!In my lab, I provide a poster provided by the Rochester Institute of Technology showing which jobs and careers will be in demand in 2014 and beyond. I remind students that school is training them for jobs that might not exist yet, and they need to keep their minds open to future opportunities.
Various government Web sites provide introductory career information for middle school students. For example, BLS.gov provides introductory career information for students in grades 4-8. Most of the material on the site is adapted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, a career guidance publication for adults and upper-level high school students that describes the job duties, working conditions, training requirements, earnings levels, and employment prospects of hundreds of occupations.
Students can also learn about careers through collaborations with other teachers, career and school counselors, administrators, community professionals, and parents. Working with other career and technology education (CTE) instructors can tie computer-based research to real-world career research. For example, the food services teacher can introduce students to careers in the hospitality, food, manufacturing, or farming industries. Theater arts teachers are an excellent resource for students interested in the arts, writing, live production, and Hollywood.
A quick survey of your school's faculty might turn up some interesting experiences that can be shared with your students. For example, a math teacher might have been a computer programmer in a previous career. Many teachers have other career experiences and would enjoy discussing the daily activities of these jobs. Our theater teacher had a long and rewarding career in TV and film, both as an actor and as a director.
Whatever your students are interested in pursuing, you can show them ways to use the computer lab to further those plans. Most universities and colleges have information and applications available online. Government grant and loan applications also can be completed online. For example, FAFSA.com is the link to federal student aid information.
You can provide valuable career and college information to your students by using resources you find around the globe or right next door!
If you have classroom ideas to share, please submit them to Classroom Tips and Tricks by e-mailing submissions@glencoe-techzine.com.
