Career Awareness
Career awareness has become a priority tool for preparing students with the basic skills, thinking skills and personal qualities required for employment in America's workplaces. (SCANS Report - "What Work Requires of Schools - U.S. Department of Labor 1991) In fact, both Indiana and Ohio have legislation that requires instruction in career awareness and career planning at the middle school level. In Indiana, see IC 20-10.1-4-12 - Employment matters and work values; career awareness and development; teacher training; career preparation demonstration projects. In Ohio see ORC 3313.60.7 - Career plans and passports for students.
The SMART Partnership, through its relationship to business and community partners, provides an excellent opportunity and tools for meeting these career awareness requirements and integrating career awareness into the problem based learning experience. SMART highly recommends the Drive of Your Life online game as an additional career awareness tool. The Drive of Your Life website is an online interactive career exploration game designed for middle-school students.
In addition, SMART has included an in-depth Career Investigation and Choice teaching activity that can be used as a foundation for career and educational course planning as students prepare to enter high school. This Career Investigation and Choice activity sequence is accessed by schools in the SMART Partnership via the Collaboration Hub (with User Name and Password).
The SMART Partnership Curriculum Committee will continue to develop career awareness options, especially those involving our business partners in a meaningful way. Using the Drive of Your Life website and the Career Investigation and Choice activity sequence, schools can begin to fulfill their obligation under state statute and engage students in self-directed, meaningful and authentic career exploration.
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